Electronic eye exams could become popular in the U.S. among patients who see them as an easy way to visit the eye doctor. After a nationwide telemedicine diabetic screening program in England and Wales, for example, diabetic retinopathy is no longer the leading cause of blindness there. Similar e-health programs could grow stateside, where diabetic retinopathy remains the main driver of new-onset blindness. But it hasn't been known if patients would participate. Researchers at the University of Michigan's (U-M’s) Kellogg Eye Center conducted a study of older adults to find out. If services are convenient, patients will use them, the investigation found. "Telemedicine has been shown to be a safe method to provide monitoring for diabetic eye care. If physicians plan to change the way that people get care, we must create a service that is appealing and tailored to the patients," says senior study author Maria Woodward, M.D., Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Kellogg Eye Center, Early detection and treatment are key to preventing blindness from diabetic retinopathy, but fewer than 65 percent of U.S. adults with diabetes undergo screening. In underserved populations, rates can drop as low as 10 or 20 percent. Shifting screening to a telemedicine program could ease the burden on patients who face high costs of care, lack of access to care or have difficulty with transportation or getting time away from work, researchers say. Finding ways to address screening will become more important in coming decades, as the number of people with diabetes is projected to more than double to 366 million worldwide by 2030. Telemedicine allows primary care doctors to play a critical role in preventing eye damage. Retinal photographs are taken of both eyes at the doctor's office using a no-dilation retina camera.Login Or Register To Read Full Story