Retinal Photography Screening Programs to Prevent Vision Loss from Diabetic Retinopathy in Rural and Urban Australia: A Review

Abstract

This review has shown there have been many pilot and demonstration projects in rural and urban Australia that confirm the effectiveness of retinal photography-based screening for DR.

Association of disease‐specific causes of visual impairment and 10‐year mortality amongst Indigenous Australians: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study

“…Future research should focus on further investigating the overall determinants of health in combination with eye health data in these disadvantaged populations to further understand the mechanisms for the association of DR and mortality. It is clear that early detection and timely treatment of DR is effective at reducing the burden of the disease, and this can be achieved by regular eye examinations or effective retinal photography‐based screening . Furthermore, T2DM and DR in Indigenous Australians should be a priority health concern given that it significantly impairs the quality and length of life of those affected and is a common cause of vision loss and blindness.…”

“…It is clear that early detection and timely treatment of DR is effective at reducing the burden of the disease, and this can be achieved by regular eye examinations or effective retinal photography-based screening. 47 Furthermore, T2DM and DR in Indigenous Australians should be a priority health concern given that it significantly impairs the quality and length of life of those affected and is a common cause of vision loss and blindness.…”

Screening for Diabetic Eye Disease among Samoan Adults: A Pilot Study

“…Detecting DR changes early and providing timely interventions decrease the risk of DR progression and risk of permanent sight-threatening disease [7]. Implementing DR screening programs using retinal photography is a cost-effective intervention, for reducing ongoing clinic visits and visual rehabilitation, as well as improving patients’ quality of life [8–10]. …”

“…The current burden of diabetes in Samoa is more than 25% of the total population [19]. Furthermore, despite the cost-effectiveness of early DR detection, Samoa currently has no regular DR screening programme [10, 20]. We performed a pilot study to explore the feasibility of DR screening in Samoa that, if implemented, could potentially reduce the burden of DR through earlier diagnosis and treatment.…”

An evaluation of a telehealth-based specialist consultation service for Indigenous people living with diabetes in Queensland

“…A long-term evaluation would be needed to see whether these videoconsultations have had a clinically significant impact in mitigating chronic sequelae of diabetes, such as diabetesassociated renal disease. However, evidence shows that close review by specialist teams for diabetes reduces long-term complications 208,209 . It would be interesting to know if clients who lived further away (in further remote locations) were on medications for longer durations (due to limited access) and whether the telehealth option influenced clinicians in their decisionmaking.…”