Emergency Department Ophthalmology Consultations in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective The main objective of this article is to characterize ophthalmology consultations in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital and identify specific ways to modify the curriculum for ophthalmology and emergency medicine residency programs to train residents to effectively manage eye-related consultations. Design This is a retrospective chart review study of ED encounters between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2017 during which ophthalmology was consulted. Setting Single-center urban tertiary care center. Participants All adult patients who were seen by the ophthalmology consultation service in the ED during the study time period. Main Outcome Measured We identified the reason for and timing of ophthalmology consultation; diagnoses made in the ED and follow-up ophthalmology clinic visit; procedures resulting from consultation; and communication with a senior resident, fellow, or attending. Results We identified 3,583 consecutive ED encounters with an ophthalmology consultation over a 9-year period. About 51.1% of patients were female and mean age of patients was 49 years. Blurry vision/vision loss was the most common reason for consultation (24.8%) and posterior vitreous detachment was the most common diagnosis made in the ED by the ophthalmology team (11.0%). Of the patients with documented follow-up ophthalmology clinic visits, 96.7% of diagnoses made at the first ophthalmology clinic visit were the same as those determined in the ED. About 12.7% of visits resulted in a procedure with the most common being eyelid laceration repairs, pars plana vitrectomy, and laser retinopexy. Overall, 40.4% of visits required communication with a senior resident, fellow, or attending. The frequency of residents seeking assistance from more senior ophthalmologists decreased over the course of the academic year (p < 0.0001). Conclusions This study provides data that ophthalmology residency training programs can use to more effectively prepare residents for consultations in the ED. Furthermore, identifying the reasons for consultation and subsequent diagnoses can guide the education of emergency medicine physicians to improve their ability to diagnose and triage ophthalmologic presentations.