A study published in Diabetes Care comparing Optos nonmydriatic UWF imaging to mydriatic ETDRS 7-field photography in screening for DR found that the two methods showed considerable agreement in identifying clinically significant macular edema and grading DR level. However, UWF permitted visualization of a substantially larger retinal area, which may be advantageous in the diagnosis and management of DR. Because UWF does not require dilation, it also may be more acceptable to patients, thereby improving compliance with screening programs, and could facilitate remote image generation and interpretation through telemedicine.

Kernt M, Hadi I, Pinter F, Seidensticker F, Hirneiss C, Haritoglou C, Kampik A, Ulbig MW, Neubauer AS. Assessment of diabetic retinopathy using nonmydriatic ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (optomap) compared with ETDRS 7-field stereo photography. Diabetes Care. 2012: 1-5.

 

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 347 million people in the world have diabetes. While the WHO estimates that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030, the condition is currently the leading cause of blindness in people ages 20 to 74. Unfortunately, many patients don’t have their eyes screened until they notice a problem – and in many of these cases, the affects of diabetic-related eye diseases have already caused irreversible damage. With these statistics in mind, it’s important to make sure that diabetic or pre-diabetic patients understand how diabetes can affect their eyes and the importance of yearly eye exams.

 

Start off by providing patients with educational materials regarding diabetic eye diseases in this month’s mailings or newsletter. Explain the characteristics and differences between diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma, all of which fall under the umbrella of diabetic eye disease. For example, diabetic retinopathy is the most common of the three and because it has no symptoms, is generally not diagnosed until damage is very severe. While treatment doesn’t reverse the damage, it can help the disease from progressing any further.

Also, share with patients how their risk of developing …

Oftentimes, patients aren’t as familiar with their medical conditions until after a famous name admits they suffer from the very same disease or condition. Take Tom Hanks for example. The star of the new film “Captain Phillips” recently revealed on the “Late Show with David Letterman” that he has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after battling high blood sugar for many years. After the diagnosis, he started taking steps to manage the disease, such as maintaining a healthier weight and diet. His admission about the state of his own health will hopefully encourage other people to be more vigilant about preventing or managing their diabetes.

Hanks’ diagnosis serves as a reminder to eye care professionals that they play an important role in the fight against diabetes, especially since November is World Diabetes Month. Also, World Diabetes Day is just around the corner. Observed on November 14, 2013, World Diabetes Day was established to recognize the profound effect diabetes has on the health of 347 million people around the world. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes are likely to be diagnosed with common eye problems like blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. Optos is banding together …

A prospective comparative study published recently in Ophthalmology found substantial agreement (80%) between Optos UWF and ETDRS 7-standard field images of eyes with DR. However, by identifying additional lesions in the retinal periphery, UWF imaging led to a more severe DR assessment in 10% of eyes, compared to assessments based on conventional photography. The authors call for further prospective study to evaluate the implications of these lesions for DR progression within different levels of severity.

Silva PS, Cavallerano JD, Sun JK, Soliman AZ, Aiello LM, Aiello LP. Peripheral lesions identified by mydriatic ultrawide field imaging: Distribution and potential impact on diabetic retinopathy severity. Ophthalmology. 2013: 1-9. [Epub ahead of print]

Most advances in medical technology are very beneficial for improving a doctor’s abilities to both diagnose and treat a particular disease or condition. For ophthalmologists, advanced imaging devices are a must. But, as Ravi D. Patel, MD, an associate vitreoretinal surgeon and director of clinical research at Retinal Vitreal Consultants Ltd., Chicago, recently shared with Ophthalmology Management, there are few imaging devices that “change the way we think about a disease or fundamentally alter clinical management.”

 

Dr. Patel focuses on ultra-widefield imaging (UWF), noting that this form of imaging has helped practitioners study areas they previously couldn’t with conventional imaging devices, especially in the vitreoretinal subspecialty. He looked at several different UWF imaging devices, but lists the ultra-wide views of up to 200° that Optos’ 200Tx scanning laser ophthalmoscope provides as incomparable to most. The enhanced view of the periphery, Dr. Patel shares, has helped lead researchers to some new clinical findings over the past few years, as well as new insights to the role of peripheral pathology in retinal vascular and degenerative diseases, among others. Dr. Patel also noted UWF imaging has helped uncover potential new disease markers.

 

Other benefits of newer UWF imaging devices Dr. Patel …