Project Overview

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness. “Over time, high blood sugar levels from diabetes lead to damage of the retina, the layer on the back of the eye that captures images and sends them to the brain. Eye damage can be occurring without any initial symptoms. That is why it is so important for people with diabetes to get regular eye examinations and catch problems before serious retinal changes occur.” Because diabetic retinopathy impacts up to 85% of individuals with diabetes, the ability to increase the total number of screenings can significantly reduce instances of preventable blindness and overall healthcare costs simultaneously. The ability to utilize a self-service health kiosk to capture retinal images, coordinate with eye specialists for processing and report results back to primary care physicians in the most convenient way possible has the power to transform how healthcare is delivered.

“The [system], developed by ophthalmologist Kevin Lavery, contains a non-mydriatic exam that does not require dilation. Upon the exam’s completion, an eye care provider, currently part of a network of board certified ophthalmologists, will evaluate the images, which are encrypted and sent electronically via secure HIPAA-compliant software.”