Community ophthalmology

Historically, public health departments had staff of physicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, environmentalists and perhaps microbiologists.

The basic public health services included pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists, family practice physicians, environment/sanitation specialists as well as nurses and midwives but no ophthalmic assistants.

In 2017 Dr. Bath's role in the founding of community ophthalmology was recognized by Medscape as one of the "14 Women Physicians who Changed the Course of American Medicine."

In 2021 the English National Health Service started a program to allow hospital ophthalmologists to access records, referrals, and diagnostic images from high street optometrists in England.

This is intended to cut out test duplication and reduce unnecessary hospital appointments.