The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) has released its Glaucoma Referral Pathways to District Health Boards (DHBs). The guidelines provide an evidence-based resource for optometrists, GPs and other health care professionals that outlines referral protocols for patients with, or suspected of having glaucoma.

RANZCO Fellow, Dr Shenton Chew, led the development of the New Zealand-specific guidelines through consultation with glaucoma sub-specialists. New Zealand based RANZCO Fellows and several eye healthcare groups also reviewed the drafts ensuring the guidelines were practical and effective.

The glaucoma guidelines are part of a series RANZCO has developed for the referral of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) across Australia and New Zealand.

The Glaucoma Referral Pathways to District Health Boards (DHBs) have been specifically developed for the New Zealand health system, to help to tackle problems such as the current backlog in follow-ups in DHBs. Following the successful launch of the RANZCO Referral Pathway for Glaucoma Management in Australia last year, RANZCO is making the RANZCO Glaucoma Referral Pathways to DHBs available to all optometrists and GPs across New Zealand.

“RANZCO is committed to working collaboratively with optometrists, GPs and other health care professionals to ensure the most effective and efficient patient care and to improve health outcomes for people across Australia and New Zealand,” explained RANZCO president, Associate Professor Mark Daniell. “The Glaucoma Referral Pathways to DHBs has been developed with input from both ophthalmologists and optometrists and aims to provide a clear guide for referring patients to DHBs. We are eager to keep receiving feedback from those who use the guidelines so that we can continue to build on and improve the referral pathways.”

“The guidelines are designed to help improve collaboration between ophthalmologists, eyecare professionals and DHBs to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. New Zealand has specific requirements that were considered in the creation of these guidelines, resulting in a clear pathway for GPs and optometrists when they see patients who have potential glaucoma,” says Dr Brian Kent-Smith, RANZCO New Zealand Branch Chair.

These referral guidelines do not favour, and are not dependent upon, any particular practice referral system or methodology, RANZCO says. They simply provide a resource which lays out a suggested referral pathway to DHBs if certain signs and or symptoms are identified. The aim is to ensure patients receive the best care possible, in the most appropriate timeframe.