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Remote Diagnosis Becomes Reality with New Mobile Imaging Van
Duke Eye Center recently established a mobile eye imaging center—a van that has been modified and equipped to screen patients at primary care clinics to identify eye disease. This advancement in remote diagnostics became reality from a passionate focus of Scott Cousins, MD for access to eye care and a generous gift from LC Industries Foundation. Access to healthcare is a major unmet need and heightened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor access, especially for people with diabetes, can lead to blinding eye disease due to delayed diagnosis and care for diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is present in more than two million diabetics in the U.S. It is estimated that only 40-50% of patients adhere to American Diabetes Association guidelines for screening, and only half of those are between patients and given an appointment or appear in clinic for a dilated eye exam. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy allows early intervention to slow or even stop vision loss caused by DR. Cousins, Robert Machemer, M.D. Professor of Ophthalmology, developed the concept for remote diagnosis that uses a combination of color fundus photo (CFP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), two complementary types of eye imaging, on non-dilated pupils to image the retina. The remote screening approach can be performed by non-expert imagers, using less expensive equipment, at a location that is convenient to the patient and the primary care doctor. This provides an accessible, efficient, low-cost screening option, which improves outcomes and patient satisfaction. DUKE EYE CENTER
2022
“Improvements in eye imaging technology now make remote diagnosis a feasible real-world alternative to an annual dilated eye exam. Our research shows this approach to be as effective as a traditional examination for identifying DR. The LC Industries Foundation gift has made possible
