Implementation of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Primary Care Setting

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of blindness globally. Although diabetes-related eye exams are widely recognized as an effective method for early detection of DR, which can help to prevent eventual vision loss, adherence to screening exams in the United States is suboptimal. This article describes a quality improvement project to increase DR screening rates and increase knowledge and awareness of DR in adults with type 2 diabetes in a primary care setting using mobile DR screening units. This project addressed gaps of care and demonstrated that primary care settings can increase access to DR screening through a patient-centered process and thereby help to prevent irreversible outcomes of DR and improve quality of life.