Optometrists using OCT as a routine clinical tool significantly increase referrals for glaucoma assessment, potentially enhancing early detection and preventing vision loss, according to a recent study.

A study published in the Journal of Glaucoma examined data from 331 optometry practices across Australia to assess the impact of routine optical coherence tomography (OCT) use on glaucoma referral patterns. Researchers analyzed electronic medical records of more than 994,000 patients aged 18 to 99. The study found that practices routinely using OCT (175 practices) had a higher referral rate for glaucoma assessment (1.1%) compared to those without OCT (0.8%). After adjusting for age, gender, and location, the study reported an odds ratio of 1.39 (95% CI 1.10–1.76) favoring referral from OCT practices.

The study concludes that integrating OCT into routine optometric care could potentially enhance glaucoma management outcomes through early intervention and reduce the incidence of undiagnosed cases.