The College of Optometrists

In my area optoms don't get paid to dilate diabetics as the PCT takes routine dilated photographs of these patients. Is not dilating considered dangerous/ negligent/ fail regarding the Case Record PQE??

best practice is to dilate diabetics so why submit a case record that may leave you open to accusations of negligence and akward questions. keep all your case records as straight forward as possible and ensure all Is are dotted and Ts crossed whilst trying to give an over view of the type of pre-reg year you had

in professional work you are relied upon to give a professional opinion - you can't do this with certainty unless you have done the proper tests. Read up the college guidelines and always follow them carefully in your professional life.

I do not disagree at all with the advice above, particularly with reference to case records.

BUT, if a patient is being monitored for diabetic retinopathy through a formal monitoring programme (generally supervised by a consultant ophthalmologist) is it in the patient's best interest to dilate again for annual optometrists examination, if there is no other indication that this is necessary? Should their GP and diabetic physician also continue to dilate and examine fundii at their diabetic check ups, as many have done in the past, resulting in the patient having a dilated fundus exam 4 times a year when only one is required?

Playing devil's advocate a bit here, but it is an issue, and even more so when you consider that the NHS sight test fee does not provide optometrists with any extra fee for examining these patients,and is highly unlikely to do so if a screening service is provided by PCT.