A literature research revealed that correction factors for these assessments are not on a very sound basis. A second study has therefore been undertaken to investigate manometry vs applanation tonometry assessments for given corneal thicknessess. Telemedicine Following the successful implementation of a telemedicine link between Ealing and City Road, a large National Lottery grant has enabled the introduction of such a system between three centres in South Africa and City Road. Craig Kennedy is undertaking research to assess this system and determine its limitations and practical uses. In collaboration with the National telemedicine project in South Africa, we hope to extend this study to investigate the support of rural primary ophthalmic health care.
Several studies are underway investigating service provision and community needs.
Access to health care - Daksha Patel has investigated reasons why the Asian community in Ealing fails to access available health care services, resulting in preventably blind within the community. The results of this qualitative study are now being used to develop intervention strategies within the community. These strategies will be assessed for their impact on health knowledge and health seeking behaviour. Social cost of present systems - in an IGA funded project Juliat Burns has investigated the effect of a diagnosis of potential glaucoma by an optometrist on individuals. This qualitative study was performed in collaboration with Geraldine Barrett at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.