American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the highest prevalence rate of diabetes in the U.S which is more than twice the rate of the general population. The AI/AN population are at increased risk for diabetes-related vision loss, largely because only half get the annual diabetic eye exam needed for timely diagnosis and treatment.
According to Mark Horton, OD, MD, Director for the IHS Tele-Ophthalmology Program, “The chance for the AI/AN population to experience blindness resulting from diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels in the eyes which can cause a condition called diabetic retinopathy.
The Indian Health Service (IHS)-Joslin Vision Network (IHS-JVN) www.ihs.gov Tele-ophthalmology Program, is using telemedicine technology to provide high quality and cost effective annual diabetic eye exams to the AI/AN population.
The technology used obtains retinal images of patients with diabetes in the primary care clinic where they receive their usual diabetes care. The images are sent to a reading center where doctors interpret the images and report on any abnormalities needing further evaluation and possible treatment.
These telemedicine examinations have been carefully tested for quality, and the IHS tele-ophthalmology program has been validated to ATA Category 3, which means that its clinical outcome is equal or better than a conventional eye exam for diabetic retinopathy.
As one of the few and largest programs validated and operating at this level, the IHS tele-ophthalmology program has brought high quality point-of-care specialty services to over 150,000 AI/AN patients.