DR. SATISH CHADHA

Abstract

The slit lamp bio microscopy (SLB) surveillance is an important pathway in screening for as long as gradable retinal images continue to be unobtainable. SLBS manages individuals with diabetes between routine digital screening (RDS) and referral to a hospital eye service (HES). In this retrospective study of 6 years, the role SLB surveillance is analysed as per grades and outcome measure on a yearly basis. There was an increase in diabetic cohort from 36210 in 2014-15 to 45753 in 2019-20. SLB examination done ranged between 242 patients (1.09%) in 2014-15 to 866 (3.06%) in 2019-2020. Out of all the SLB surveillance during the study period, patients retained in Community Screening Program ranged between 95.45% to 85.21% and the referral to the Hospital Eye service ranged between 4.5% in 2014-15 to 14.78% in 2019-20.

Essential role of ophthalmologist in conducting SLBS, its importance, maintaining training, competency & on-going internal quality assurance of SLB examiners discussed.