Digital Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy

Every diabetic is at risk for the development of diabetic eye disease. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the danger, but the beginning stages of retinopathy are asymptomatic. Many diabetic patients have 20/20 vision and are unaware of the microscopic changes and damage their retinas have already sustained.  An annual dilated retinal examination is the only way to detect the early and most treatable stages of retinopathy. Effective treatment slows or stops the advance of retinopathy, but it cannot be applied without determining which patients need it.

The Vanderbilt diabetic eye screening program incorporates the following components:
· Visual acuity testing
· Pharmacologic dilation
· Patient education
· Imaging
· Transmission of data
· Analysis and reporting

Testing Sites:
The VOIC diabetic retinopathy screening program screens patients where they customarily receive medical care - in internal medicine or primary care clinics. Scanning cameras may be permanently installed in these offices, or VOIC will bring a mobile unit to the office and screen patients by appointment.

The Screening Process:
Trained retinal screeners administer the test, which only takes about 20 minutes to perform. After measuring the patient’s vision, a short-acting dilating drop is administered. Next, the patient is presented with information about diabetes and the preservation of vision. Then two photographs of each eye are created, recording the crucial center of the retina and some adjoining tissue. These high-resolution digital images are captured on a computer. Patients are given the opportunity to view these images, which increases compliance and empowers them to consider useful lifestyle choices to preserve their vision. After the screening session is concluded, the images are sent to the VOIC Reading Center where expert graders examine the images and report their findings to the primary care physician. If needed, the physician may arrange for local specialists to examine and treat patients with significant diabetic retinopathy. If no retinopathy is found, the patient is reminded to obtain another screening examination in one year, a recommendation by the American Diabetes Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Frequently Asked Questions - For Physicians

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