Diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness in your patients if left untreated. But you can help save your patients’ eyesight by detecting the early signs of diabetic retinopathy. Optomed’s new handheld fundus camera allows primary care physicians (PCPs) to screen diabetic patients for signs of retinopathy. The camera is accurate and affordable and increases patients’ access to eye screenings.
How to Prevent Blindness in Your Diabetic Patients
The first step to preventing blindness in diabetic patients is a retinal imaging test. By looking at the retina, doctors (including PCPs) can spot early warning signs and begin treatment.
Traditionally, retinal imaging is performed by an ophthalmologist during an annual eye exam. This exam can be inconvenient for patients because it involves an additional trip to a specialist, which may not be covered by their insurance. Furthermore, some patients simply forgo their annual eye exam, increasing the likelihood of advanced disease by the time that diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed.
Optomed’s handheld fundus camera is a newer alternative that has many benefits over traditional ophthalmoscopes. First, this camera can be used in many clinical settings, not just an ophthalmologist’s office. PCPs and their assistants can be trained to use Optomed Aurora accurately. This can also allow physicians to incorporate funduscopy during an at-home visit or a remote clinic.
Optomed’s handheld cameras are convenient for patients too, making it more likely that they will opt in to regular retinopathy screenings. These cameras work without mydriasis, so patients can drive themselves home after a visit.
In addition, Optomed Aurora provides accurate images of the patient’s retinas. The images captured by Optomed Aurora are high-resolution. These images can help PCPs and physician assistants detect diabetic retinopathy with the same accuracy as an ophthalmologist.
Finally, Optomed’s devices are affordable and can easily be incorporated into your practice, so you can focus on helping your patients. By regularly screening your patients for diabetic retinopathy, you can accurately diagnose the condition earlier. This can help you start a treatment plan before symptoms present. Ultimately, this leads to a better prognosis, helping you prevent blindness in your diabetic patients.
Optomed Aurora Supports Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy
Optomed’s Aurora produces high-quality retinal images. These are easily gradable and can allow PCPs to accurately detect diabetic retinopathy in their patients. The Aurora is compatible with all electronic medical records, allowing you to save these images to a patient’s file. If they move or need to see a specialist, the images will be readily available for another doctor to review.
One of the biggest benefits of the Aurora is the accuracy of the readings taken and interpreted by PCPs. Optomed Aurora makes it easy for you and your care team to obtain high-quality retinal images. PCPs utilizing the Aurora camera can easily detect diabetic retinopathy early on, without referring their patients to a specialist.
This leads to more patients getting tested and starting treatment early. For example, patients in rural settings might have difficulty accessing health care, and they may not regularly receive an eye exam. Other patients might simply avoid visiting their ophthalmologists because their eyesight is fine. Some patients may even find the cost of visiting an ophthalmologist to be too high. Furthermore, patients might prefer to have a PCP perform a quick retinal exam, as they are more likely to trust their personal doctor.
All these factors improve the testing rate, leading to earlier detection, better treatment options, and overall better prognosis for patients.
Optomed Aurora Helps Physicians
Optomed’s Aurora camera is an easy way for PCPs to support patients. Early detection of diabetic retinopathy, supported by a convenient fundus camera, is the key to saving patients’ vision. You can provide treatment earlier and slow or stop the progression of the disease.
Offering this service to your patients can help improve your rapport, ensuring that your patients will continue to trust you to care for them. This allows for better communication and improved adherence to treatment plans. You can educate them about diabetic retinopathy and how you can help detect abnormalities in their retinas. This helps patients opt in more strongly to treatment and prevention options. Ultimately, you can save your patients’ eyesight.
Adding a fundus camera to your practice also benefits you. It allows you to offer new services to your patients. A retinal exam is typically covered by most insurance plans, allowing you to be reimbursed for the imaging. You can grow your revenue while improving your patients’ lives!
Learn more about how Optomed Aurora is making fundoscopy more available to patients through their PCPs.
Here at Optomed, our mission is to help save the vision of millions of people. By integrating our software and artificial intelligence solutions with our camera, we enable eye screening for everyone, wherever they are. To see how we can equip you to save the sight of more patients, schedule a free consultation today!
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