Free Eye Disease Screening Program Engaging High-Risk Adults
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Aug. 27, 2024 -- A novel free eye disease screening program is engaging adults at high risk for eye disease who are underusing eye care services, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Eric Sherman, M.D., from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues examined the reasons for underuse of eye care and whether a novel, free eye disease screening program is engaging adults at high risk for eye disease, who were underusing eye care services. A total of 1,171 Michigan Screening and Intervention for Glaucoma and Eye Health Through Telemedicine participants who were recruited from primary care clinics serving two low-income communities were included in the study.
The researchers found that the characteristics of participants reporting not having had an eye examination in two years or longer included age 65 years and older, self-reported diabetes, family history of glaucoma, self-reported glaucoma, and Black or African-American individual aged 50 years and older (23, 33, 25, 3, and 33 percent, respectively). In those who reported not having had an eye examination in two or more years, 21, 20, 6, and 1 percent screened positive for glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, respectively. No insurance, no reason to go (no problem), and cost of eye examination were reported reasons for why participants had not had an eye examination (28, 22, and 16 percent, respectively).
"Increasing access and use of eye care will likely require large-scale efforts to increase access to and public awareness of affordable eye care," John S. Wittenborn, and David B. Rein, Ph.D., from NORC at the University of Chicago, write in an accompanying editorial.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Health Care Expenditure Expected to Top GDP Growth 2024 to 2033
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- The annual growth in national health spending is expected to be faster than average gross domestic product (GDP) growth during 2024 to 2033, according to...
Considerable Variation Seen in Commercial Pricing for Surgery Services
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- Commercial pricing varies considerably for general surgery services, with facility prices exhibiting greater variability, according to a research letter...
Urinary Metal Levels Tied to Increased Risk for Later Heart Failure
THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 -- There are consistent associations between elevated urinary metal levels and increased heart failure risk over time across geographically diverse cohorts...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.