AI Summary
A comanagement program at UCSF in which patients saw glaucoma-trained optometrists and had access to glaucoma specialists showed promising outcomes, according to a study published in Ophthalmology Glaucoma involving UCSF glaucoma-trained optometrists and glaucoma fellowship-trained ophthalmologists.
Participating optometrists completed a structured curriculum comprising didactic instruction, a minimum 3-week shadowing period and a supervised trial phase with direct oversight by glaucoma specialists.
Patients who were glaucoma suspects or had stable glaucoma were given two options: to see only an optometrist until their disease warranted escalation (transfer care) or to alternate visits between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist (alternate care).
Glaucoma stability was comparable between the groups.
This model has the potential to optimize resource utilization and improve patient access, particularly in settings where glaucoma specialist access is limited. https://www.healio.com/news/optometry/20260309/ucsf-program-trains-optometrists-for-glaucoma-comanagement