Station - Instructions for candidate
You are a medical student on placement in a general practice.
Liezel Bautista, a 74-year-old retired school administration officer, has been referred by her optometrist, who has told her she has cataracts. She has never had an operation and is frightened. She has booked to see you today to find out what the operation involves before she agrees to anything.
| Optometry referral letter (key lines) | Progressive blurred vision over about a year, worse right than left. Best-corrected visual acuity 6/24 right eye, 6/12 left eye. Night glare. Dilated examination: nuclear lens opacities; optic discs and maculae healthy; no diabetic retinopathy. Advised to see her GP to discuss surgery. |
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Your tasks are to:
- Explain to the patient what a cataract is and what cataract surgery involves, in plain language.
- Explore and respond to her worries about going blind and about the operation.
- Outline the initial management plan - the referral and the practical steps before surgery - and agree next steps with her.
- You do NOT need to examine the patient.
- You do NOT need to summarise your findings to the examiner.
- You may refer to the optometry referral letter provided to you during your explanation.
This is a 10-minute station, with 2 minutes of reading time.