In this talk, I'll present the results of the study on physician awareness about ophthalmological complications in patients with acromegaly, and access of these patients to medical care. Let's start with acromegaly as a severe neuroendocrine disorder caused by this hypersecretion of growth hormone. This condition is marked by gradual development of systemic complications and highly specific physical changes. It also often occurs with various endocrine disorders such as impaired carbohydrate metabolism and thyroid dysfunction. Additionally, acromegaly may present with cardiac and neurological symptoms, with ocular health being a critical aspect affected by the disease. Given the diverse range of ocular complications linked to acromegaly, early diagnosis and timely visit to an ophthalmologist are crucial. Ophthalmologic complications in acromegaly can be divided into two main groups. Those directly resulting from the compressive effects of the tumor on the optic nerve, such as bitemporal hemianopsia, and those associated with excess growth hormone secretion. The later group includes increased central corneal thickness, elevated intraocular pressure, and others that you can see in the slide. Let's move on to the body of my presentation and talk about the study. So, the purpose of the study was to analyze the physician awareness across specialists regarding visual impairment in acromegaly patients and the importance of referring these patients to an ophthalmologist. A national survey was conducted among physicians of various specialties through an online questionnaire involving 171 specialists from different regions of our country. As you can see on the slide, the majority of respondents were endocrinologists It is 81.9% with others, including dentists, pediatric endocrinologists, maxillofacial surgeons, and others. So, the survey begin with the general questions about physicians' assessment of ocular complications affecting quality of life in acromegaly patients, gradually progressing to more specific questions about referral practices to ophthalmologists. Among the survey questions, physicians were asked to evaluate the prevalence of various ocular disorders based on their practice. And important questions assist where the computerized perimetry could be assigned for acromegaly patients. Besides yes or no answers, a no specialist available option was provided. This option highlighted a more serious issue. Patients with acromegaly and potential ocular complications may lack access to specialized care in certain regions. As a result, according to 42.1% of respondents, visual impairment is a significant complication affecting of the quality of life in acromegaly patients. Our data show that 18.1% of specialists do not refer these patients to ophthalmologist consultation, often due to the absence of obvious vision impairment complaints. Additionally, more than the half of physicians reported an inability to refer patients for computerized perimetry, despite visual field disorders being a common complication of hypothalamic pituitary tumors. The study revealed that many physicians face challenges in accessing ocular complications in acromegaly patients, especially in regions lacking specialized ophthalmologists. Furthermore, a significant number of physicians do not refer patients to specialists which may indicate a lack of information or gaps in healthcare access. Respondents also reported various ocular pathologies with the incidence varying by practical experience. Notably, few physicians had access to computerized perimetry, limiting diagnostic and treatment option. In conclusion, this study highlights a high level of awareness among physicians from various specialties about ophthalmologic complications associated with acromegaly. However, it also underscores the limited opportunity for patient referral for specialized ophthalmologic assessment, including computer perimetry. These findings provide a foundation for improving patient management and referral processes in acromegaly care. Thank you for your attention. I'll be happy to accept any questions via email, and I'd appreciate it if you could contact me for a further discussion.

acromegaly

ophthalmologic care

physician awareness

ocular complications

specialist referrals