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Optician looking into a ladies eyes using a ophthalmoscope to check eye health © Pixabay

Guidelines to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of patients with nerve swelling at the back of the eye, known as papilloedema, are being developed by researchers at the University of Bristol.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded ‘Improving the Diagnostic accuracy of referrals for Papilloedema’ (DIPP) Study aims to address these problems by developing and evaluating a set of guidelines for GPs and optometrists to improve the accuracy of diagnostic referrals.

The study has three stages. The first will find out how optometrists and hospitals in different areas in England manage people who may have eye nerve swelling, and look at what training, equipment or resources might help. The second will involve developing guidelines for GPs and optometrists and information leaflets for patients. The third will evaluate how the guidelines are used and whether patient experiences have improved as a result.

Dr Alyson Huntley, NIHR School for Primary Care Research Fellow and co-lead of the study based at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol, added: “The strength of the DIPP study is that we are taking an integrated approach involving health professionals and the public across the eye care pathway. We are also looking at the situation nationally to provide recommendations for service improvement across England.”

Further information

  • This study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (project reference 581).
  • Read the full article here

Republished with thanks to The University of Bristol.