Audit and research.

Sheldrick et al have shown that about one person out of every 1000 consults for refractive problems each year.' Currently most refractive problems are dealt with by optometric services.With corneal laser surgery, however, the treatment of myopia,8 hyperopia, and astigmatism could become the responsibility of ophthalmologists."'When these new techniques have been perfected the NHS will have to decide whether to provide them for patients-at a cost of about £200000 per machine.