In New Zealand health care is publicly funded. In order to better utilize resources, several clinical scores have been devised which can be used to prioritize patients to receive services. One such score has been developed for patients being evaluated for cataract surgery.
Parameters for score:
(1) visual acuity
(2) glare
(3) ocular comorbidity
(4) ability to work, care for dependents, or work independently
(5) extent of impairment in visual function
(6) other substantial disability
|
|
vision in eye with worse vision |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
vision better eye |
6/9 or better |
6/12 |
6/18 |
6/24 |
6/36 |
6/60 |
fingers or hand |
|
6/9 or better |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
6/12 |
|
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
6/18 |
|
|
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
|
6/24 |
|
|
|
21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
|
6/36 |
|
|
|
|
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
6/60 |
|
|
|
|
|
35 |
36 |
|
fingers or hand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
40 |
where:
• "fingers or hand" indicates the ability to count fingers or detect hand movements
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|---|---|---|
|
glare |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild-to-moderate |
5 |
|
|
severe |
10 |
|
ocular comorbidity |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild-to-moderate |
5 |
|
|
severe |
10 |
|
ability to work, care for dependents, work independently |
not threatened or not applicable |
0 |
|
|
not threatened but more difficult |
2 |
|
|
threatened but not immediately |
6 |
|
|
immediately threatened |
15 |
|
extent of impairment in visual function |
none |
0 |
|
|
mild |
5 |
|
|
moderate |
10 |
|
|
severe |
20 |
where:
• Ocular comorbidity includes age-related macular degeneration, chronic simple glaucoma, etc.
• The extent of impairment in visual function includes reading, recognizing faces, seeing steps or curbs (kerbs in New Zealand), watching TV, driving, and reading traffic signs.
priority score =
= SUM(points for the 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 100
Specialty: Ophthalmology
