Pensacola, FL ( Jan 20, 2023) – Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS), a leader in retinal screening technology, and Grady Health System have partnered with Georgia Vision 2020 to provide retinal imaging to underserved patients for the fifth year. The annual event is the local organization’s contribution to the global initiative World Sight Day.

IRIS, in partnership with Grady, has been part of Georgia Vision’s annual World Sight Day initiative since the first event in 2017. Every year, IRIS sends a team equipped to perform retinal screenings. A licensed ophthalmologist immediately analyzes the images captured by the IRIS team and discusses any findings with the patient. When patients require treatment, IRIS provides a copy of their exam results and the Grady team facilitates the referral process to ensure patients receive the care they need quickly.  

Around 100 people receive access to vision services each year through this event, about half of whom need glasses. 50-75% of attendees require retinal imaging; pathology is identified in more than 20% of those patients, and about 5% require a referral for surgery or vision-threatening disease.

“Our annual World Sight Day event gives us an opportunity to work together as a community to educate the public on vision problems and the need for routine eye care,” said Dr. Jacquelyn O’Banion, co-founder of Georgia Vision 2020, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Global Ophthalmology at Grady. “During these events, we see how hard it is for our population to access eye services as most of the attendees have diabetes, glaucoma, and need glasses or referrals for potentially blinding disease. With IRIS and these events, we can provide a valuable service and hopefully shed light on potential eye disease and encourage people to get regular follow up.”

World Sight Day is sponsored by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to raise awareness about the importance of eye health and increase access to care for those who need it most. In 2016, a network of non-profit eye care organizations in Georgia came together to address gaps in care, and Georgia Vision 2020 was formed. Every year, Georgia Vision 2020 hosts its own World Sight Day event to serve the local community in alignment with global efforts. Grady significantly contributes to this event by offering vision services at no cost to participants, including refraction, tonometry, new eyeglasses, and retinal screenings.

“I’m grateful for our partnership with Grady, which allows us to be part of this amazing event,” said Morgan Pinder, Director of Client Success at IRIS. “It is so rewarding to witness the impact of these events first-hand.”

         

About IRIS

Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems’ (IRIS) mission is to end preventable blindness. Their end-to-end comprehensive diagnostic solution enables the provision of retinal imaging services in a variety of settings to persons at risk for developing sight-threatening diseases. The IRIS software is an FDA Class II cleared cloud-based platform which offers clients the unique ability to customize their program from hardware to workflow, ultimately improving quality, increasing access, and reducing costs, most importantly helping to end vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. For more information, visit www.retinalscreenings.com. 

About Georgia Vision 2020

Georgia Vision 2020 is a network of vision service providers collaborating to prevent visual impairment and help Georgians achieve their full visual potential through health promotions, education, service delivery, and advocacy. Learn more about their work at www.gavision2020.org. 

About Grady Health System

Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children’s affiliate. With its nationally acclaimed emergency medical services, Grady is the only Level I trauma center in the Metro Atlanta region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. Grady’s Walter L. Ingram Burn Center is the leading burn center in north Georgia. And the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center is a Joint Commission designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center. Other key services/distinctions include Grady’s Regional Perinatal Center with its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgia’s first Cancer Center for Excellence, The Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center – one of the top HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country. Grady is one of an elite group of hospitals to earn the Baby-Friendly USA international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility. For more information visit http://www.gradyhealth.org/.