Optometry: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

There are many excellent ophthalmology textbooks which give the novice the appropriate knowledge, however very few indicate how to apply it. For this reason I have developed along with colleagues a series of diagnostic algorithms (Edinburgh Diagnostic Algorithms) for the three most commonly encountered scenarios: red eye (s), visual loss and diplopia. I’ve included two others; anisocoria and epiphora. These diagnostic algorithms allow the inexperienced clinician (in ophthalmological terms) to start toutilise and build upon their existing knowledge by consulting a framework which represents the thought processes of their more experienced colleagues. Algorithms are, therefore, simply a user-friendly version of these diagnostic and/or treatment thought processes. Algorithms are always a compromise between having enough detail to cover the most commonly encountered diagnoses while remaining simple enough to use. They rely upon the clinician being able to clarify the history and elicit the clinical signs which act as signposts on the road to diagnostic nirvana. I’ll present the results of 3 published studies looking at the accuracy of the Edinburgh Diagnostic Algorithms I’m hopeful that during the course of my talk I’ll convince you of their benefits whilst having a bit of fun! The accuracy of the Edinburgh Red Eye diagnostic algorithm. H Timlin, L Butler & M Wright Eye (Lond). 2015 May;29(5):619-24. The accuracy of the Edinburgh Visual Loss diagnostic algorithm. C Goudie, A Khan, C Lowe and M Wright. Eye (Lond). 2015 Nov;29(11):1483-8. The accuracy of the Edinburgh Diplopia diagnostic algorithm. L Butler, T Yap and M Wright Eye (Lond). 2016 Jun;30(6):812-6 Narrated algorithm talk: https://youtu.be/9MykiR5imtw

Biography