How a Quick Eye Exam Can Detect Diabetic Retinopathy

Quick Eye Exam

It is estimated that 537 million people have diabetes globally. This means that the threat of diabetic retinopathy — the leading cause of vision loss in adults — is at an all-time high. 

However, some screening methods can prevent the onset of blindness in adults with diabetes, from ophthalmologist screenings to quick eye exams like teleretinal imaging. This blog will further explore diabetic retinopathy screening methods and evaluate the most effective tactics for decreasing the detection time of ocular conditions in eye exams.

Current Screening Methods

A few screening methods have been developed to diagnose eye disease. Each has its own processes, advantages, and disadvantages.

Teleretinal Imaging

Teleretinal imaging is the process of capturing and enhancing retinal images, and then using those images to accurately diagnose the presence of sight-threatening diseases like diabetic retinopathy. This solution is a cost-effective alternative to a fully dilated eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Recent studies have found that fundus eye exams like retinal testing eye tests can save $127 per individual with diabetes when screened over their lifetime.

IRIS quick eye exam

Additionally, digital retinal imaging can be as quick as five minutes, and results can be delivered in two business days. The retinal images are interpreted remotely by a licensed and trained physician to identify the presence of vision-threatening eye diseases.

Optometrist or Ophthalmologist Screening

The most common way to receive diabetic retinopathy screenings is through an in-person eye exam from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. In this screening, a physician will likely use eye drops to dilate the pupil and examine the back of the eye, otherwise known as the fundus. Sometimes, the physician will take a photo of the back of the eye for further examination. This in-person exam takes around 10 minutes and the results are delivered during the appointment.

While efficient, this type of screening is often only accessible through a referral, which can add to the issue of care gaps for underserved patient populations.

Fluorescein Angiography

Fluorescein Angiography is a less common test that involves injecting fluorescent dye into a patient’s bloodstream. Although the examination only takes 15 to 20 minutes, the preparation and recovery from the exam can last up to two hours. 

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive eye exam that uses light to scan and take a cross-sectional retinal image. For diabetes-related eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, OCT can detect damage to the small blood vessels of the eye without the need for injection of fluorescent dye.

The downsides of exams using an OCT are the cost and access to the equipment. The test takes an average of  5 to 10 minutes to complete, however, recovery from pupil dilation can take up to two hours.

Method Limitations

Because numerous screening methods require an in-person examination, people dealing with certain social determinants of health may lack the ability to receive these screenings and thus may be unaware of their susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy.

As a solution to this, healthcare providers are turning to teleretinal imaging. This type of quick eye exam supports efforts to close patient care gaps by providing exams inside and outside a primary care office, often directly in the patient’s home. With IRIS’s teleretinal screening solution, providers can begin closing care gaps for their patients by offering access to a retinal screening outside of the traditional eye care provider office.

How AI Can Make a Quick Eye Exam Even Quicker

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the healthcare landscape, and retinal screenings are no exception. In diabetic retinopathy care, AI has emerged as a powerful tool, offering autonomous solutions that support both efficiency and accessibility. By analyzing fundus photography without requiring physician involvement in the initial screening process, AI delivers rapid results—categorized as “refer,” “no refer,” or “ungradable.” Additionally, when qualified, AI gradings have an easy code that allows for direct insurance reimbursement.

However, it’s important to note that AI’s current capabilities stop at this initial categorization. A “refer” result means the patient must undergo additional diagnostic screenings to determine the specific stage of diabetic retinopathy. In contrast, traditional retinal screenings conducted by trained providers provide a more comprehensive assessment, identifying detailed stages such as Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR), ranging from mild to severe, or Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. This granularity allows for a clearer picture of disease progression without the need for additional specialist consultations.

At IRIS, we recognize the strengths of both approaches and strive to integrate the best of AI and human expertise. Through partnerships with AEYE Health in the U.S. and Thirona Retina internationally, we ensure our AI-powered teleretinal screening solutions meet the highest standards of precision, accessibility, and confidentiality. These partnerships empower healthcare providers, insurers, and health systems to address care gaps effectively, delivering faster, data-driven diagnoses while maintaining the flexibility to leverage traditional diagnostic methods when needed.

Opportunities for Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy With a Quick Eye Exam

As the need for better patient care continues to grow, healthcare providers will need to implement new processes that close patient care gaps and ensure equity across patient populations. The best way primary care providers can do this is by implementing the IRIS Solution into their patient care strategies. 

With IRIS, retinal images are uploaded to the IRIS Reading Center (IRC), where remote physicians across the country look for signs of diabetic retinopathy using both the original and enhanced fundus eye exam images. The results from the IRC are sent directly to the patient’s EHR record, making it easier for providers to see the patient’s results as soon as they come in.

 

By implementing IRIS’s leading solution, healthcare providers can close patient care gaps with a quick eye exam and improve their HEDIS score. This helps gain more patients in the future, subsequently closing patient care gaps until vision loss in adults with diabetes is eradicated. To learn more about IRIS’s sight-saving mission, contact us, or schedule a demo to get in touch with a member of our team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does AI Technology Improve Diagnosis Rates?

AI technology improves diagnosis rates by processing and analyzing vast amounts of data at speeds beyond human capability. Machine learning algorithms are trained on thousands of medical records, enabling them to recognize patterns within dense quantities of patient data. This enhanced detection allows for early diagnosis of conditions like diabetic retinopathy and faster recognition of signs of diabetic retinopathy within fundus imagery.

Currently, AI does not have the capability to make a complete diagnosis with severity. Today, there are only three results available with AI optionality: refer, no refer, and ungradable. These results do not tell you what stage of diabetic retinopathy a patient may be in however do allow for immediate feedback to the patient at the point of care.

Can AI Help in the Screening of Eye Disease?

Yes, artificial intelligence (AI) can help in the screening of eye diseases. AI can be trained to recognize intricate details in fundus eye exam photographs, identifying early signs of conditions such as diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. By offering limited results from screenings more quickly, treatments can be implemented earlier, potentially preventing vision loss on a larger scale.

Is There Potential to Decrease Detection Time on Eye Exams?

Yes, there’s significant potential to decrease detection times during eye exams, thanks largely to fundus photography and teleretinal imaging. Compared to in-person appointments with optometrists or ophthalmologists, teleretinal imaging is a quick eye exam, only taking about five minutes. In addition, by sending fundus eye exam images to the IRIS Reading Center (IRC), retinal images can be reviewed for diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy by a remote physician with results often returning in less than two business days.

Can an Ophthalmologist Detect Diabetes?

Yes, ophthalmologists can detect diabetes. This is one of the most common ways to screen for diabetes-related eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy,

Can an Eye Test Detect Diabetes?

A formal diabetes diagnosis is required from your doctor to know if you are at risk for diabetic eye diseases. Once you have received a diabetes diagnosis, there are multiple types of eye tests that can be used to determine if diabetes is affecting your eyes.

How Long Does a Diabetic Eye Exam Take?

Diabetic eye exams may last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the method used by your doctor.

How Much Does a Diabetic Eye Exam Cost?

The cost of a diabetic eye exam for patients is largely determined by insurance coverage, which varies from patient to patient. For eye doctors and general practitioners, the cost of testing equipment varies between types of tests. Once teleretinal imaging equipment is purchased, it is one of the most cost-effective methods for diabetic eye exams.


 

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