Patient experience of and barriers to the eye examination

BACKGROUND: Ophthalmic examination is central to the diagnosis and monitoring of eye disease. However, there is a paucity of qualitative studies about the patient's experience. The Patient Experience of Eye Examination eValuation Study (PEEEVS) was designed to evaluate patient experiences of key examination-related components of routine ophthalmic care. METHODS: PEEEVS employs a cross-sectional, mixed methods design combining quantitative visual analogue scales (VAS) with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Data from 203 patients (M:F - 101:102) were analysed with respect to their experiences of topical anaesthesia, optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, tonometry, slit lamp examination, and mydriasis. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis indicated predominantly favourable responses, with median VAS scores ranging between 88 and 89 for all tests. In contrast, qualitative findings identified specific areas of concern, including challenges with maintaining proper positioning during slit lamp examination and OCT, particularly for individuals with pre-existing neck/back pain, larger body habitus, or advanced pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: While participant experience of most monitoring tests was good, specific examination aspects can impact patient comfort and potentially affect long-term adherence to ocular monitoring. The study highlights the need for targeted considerations, such as ergonomic improvements and enhanced patient communication strategies to alleviate discomfort and support sustained engagement in ophthalmic care.