Effectiveness of hypertension screening in an urban optometric clinic.

461 randomly selected eyecare patients were screened for systemic hypertension at the clinic of the University Optometric Center, State College of Optometry, State University of New York. The results of this survey showed 52 screening failures, 30 of whom had previously been identified as having hypertension. The study showed that the screening and follow-up added $2.00 per patient to the chair cost. The authors concluded that the information provided to our patients, students and practitioners warrants this cost.