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Diabetes impacts more than just blood sugar levels, sometimes moving silently behind the scenes causing damage to small blood vessels in the eyes and deteriorating kidney health over time. Diabetic retinopathy remains one of the most serious and common complications of diabetes, which is the leading cause of preventable vision loss among working-age adults in the U.S.
In a recent episode of the Heart of Hamlin podcast, Retina Labs’ very own Director of Operations, Brandon Condiff, shares why routine diabetic eye exams are critical when it comes to improving access to care while protecting vision for thousands of people across West Virginia and beyond.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy Screening?
Diabetic retinopathy screening focuses on one key step: capturing high-quality images of the retina that enable retina specialists to look for early signs of damage caused by diabetes.
“Diabetic retinopathy is often a silent disease,” Brandon explains. “Most people don’t notice symptoms until the condition has already progressed to a certain stage like proliferative or severe diabetic retinopathy.”
When diabetic retinopathy is detected early enough and treated appropriately, the risk of vision loss can often be reduced in up to 95% of cases. Early detection gives providers and care coordinators the opportunity to intervene before any permanent damage can occur.
Diabetic Eye Exams vs. Regular Eye Exams: What’s the Difference?
Many people assume that a simple optometrist exam while getting new glasses or a routine vision check at a primary care clinic adequately covers all their eye health needs.
- Regular eye exams focus on vision or prescription needs and may screen for common conditions like glaucoma.
- Diabetic eye exams focus specifically on the health of the retina, particularly where diabetes-related damage occurs.
“Diabetic eye exams look below the surface of the retina,” Brandon shares. “They allow retina specialists to see the small blood vessels located in the back of the retina and check for early signs of diabetic eye disease.”
Both types of exams are important, but diabetic eye exams play the unique role of protecting long-term vision health for people living with diabetes.
Accessible Care Gaps: Why Many Screenings Are Often Missed
Despite how important these exams are, fewer than half of all eligible health plan members who require diabetic eye exams complete them annually.
Barriers like transportation, general proximity to local eyecare providers, and scheduling availability make it difficult for many people to get screened, especially those residing in rural or historically underserved communities.
This is where mobile retinal imaging technology and in-home preventive care screenings make a real difference. By bringing diabetic eye exams directly to members in-home, Retina Labs helps close this critical HEDIS measure while ensuring more members receive this essential preventive care delivery service.
Seeing the Bigger Picture: What Diabetic Eye Exams Can Reveal
Another benefit of the diabetic eye exam retinal imaging process is the broader capability to uncover various incidental findings beyond diabetic retinopathy alone, where retina specialists may also see early signs of:
- Glaucoma
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
- Hypertensive Retinopathy
“These additional findings can be incredibly valuable,” Brandon notes. “They give members the chance to adhere to follow-up care plans regarding other potential eye health issues they may not have otherwise known about.”
Simple Preventive Actions That Positively Impact Long-Term Eye Health
Protecting your vision generally starts with a few simple preventive actions:
- Effectively managing diabetes by adhering to prescribed medications where applicable
- Completing routine A1C & kidney health evaluation tests
- Receiving diabetic eye exams annually or as recommended by a primary care provider (PCP)
- Follow-up care plan coordination involving any abnormal findings
Brandon sums it up perfectly with one simple analogy:
“Preventive screenings are like changing the oil in your car. If you keep up with regular maintenance, things tend to last longer and outcomes become more predictable. Your eyes are no different.”
Making Preventive Eye Care More Accessible
Through gap closure program partnerships with health plans, Retina Labs brings diabetic eye exams along with other critical preventive screening services directly to their members’ homes, ultimately helping remove common access to care barriers. Best of all, many of these screenings are often covered under their health plan’s general preventive program benefits, making access easier for those members who need it most.
The Bottom Line:
A diabetic retinopathy diagnosis doesn’t always result in vision loss. With regular screenings and early intervention, most vision loss related to diabetes can be prevented. By expanding access to diabetic eye exams for all members regardless of their demographics, Retina Labs is helping more people protect their eyesight, one preventive screening at a time.
Stream the Vision and Voice podcast episode on Spotify by following the link below:
Podcast Episode: Vision and Voice | Heart of Hamlin (Spotify)
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