Acute ophthalmology clinic in the new system of organized health care

PURPOSE: To analyse possibilities, needs, expenses and perspectives of the emergency service in ophthalmology clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of patients were treated and diagnosis profile set. It has been analysed in emergency service in ophthalmology clinic. The calculation of patient's need and hospital operating costs has been performed. RESULTS: Only a few patients needed high specialist rescue of ophthalmology department. CONCLUSION: The system in which every patient has a possibility to go to the emergency service in ophthalmology department of hospital requires urgent changes. This system is too expensive for hospital and does not solve the problem who should take care of the patient: a general practitioner, out-patients ophthalmologist or other physicians.