By Chong Wee Hou, Optometrist, International Eye Cataract Retina Centre, Singapore
The general practitioner (GP) is usually the first health care professional the general public consults for many medical problems. In the United Kingdom, data suggest that sight problems and eye conditions account for up to 5% of GP consultations. Some of the common eye conditions that GPs commonly encounter include dry eye, blepharitis and red eyes. While many of these conditions are innocuous, self-limiting or are easy-to-treat, a number are potentially sight-threatening conditions that require prompt diagnosis and urgent referrals to the ophthalmologist for management.
Dr Au Eong Kah Guan, Medical Director & Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist from International Eye Cataract Retina Centre in Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and Farrer Park Medical Centre, gave a talk on the “Management of Common Eye Problems in General Practice” to a group of GPs during a lunch-time continuing medical education programme in Peach Garden in Orchid Country Club on 3 November 2017. The educational problem was organised by Novartis, a leading pharmaceutical company in Singapore and worldwide.
Dr Au Eong shared useful tips on the diagnosis and management of common eye conditions such as dry eye, blepharitis, conjunctivitis and subconjunctival haemorrhage. He also highlighted the important symptoms and signs of serious eye conditions such as scleritis and acute angle closure glaucoma.
The GPs participated enthusiastically in a question and answer session following the talk.
