Beyond the Comprehensive Exam
Connecting Eye Care to Whole-Person Health: Following the Diabetic Patient Journey
In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month in November, The Vision Council Foundation and EyeMed have created a three-part video series illustrating the diabetic patient journey from the initial exam all the way to additional care coordination.
Part 1: It Starts with the Exam
An eye exam can do more than check vision. For patients with diabetes, it’s sometimes the first place signs of diabetic retinopathy show up, often before any symptoms appear.
In Part 1 of this video series, Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council and The Vision Council Foundation, moderates a conversation with EyeMed Medical Directors Dr. Diana Gilbert and Dr. Dan Levy to discuss what potential red flags optometrists are looking for in an exam and how it goes well beyond just the eyes.
What You’ll Learn
- What a dilated exam can reveal without invasive testing
- How understanding a patient’s health history adds context to what you see
- Signs of diabetic retinopathy
Part 2: Beyond the Exam Room
Medical jargon can be intimidating, so a conversation between patient and provider is the next best step to make sure patients understand what the findings reveal and how they can play an active role in their care.
Part 2 covers how eye care providers can translate the findings into digestible information and action items as they guide the patient on their diabetic retinopathy journey.
What You’ll Learn
- Free resources available from The Vision Council and EyeMed to keep patients learning about eye health
- Opportunities to strengthen connections and information sharing among eye care providers and the larger healthcare team
- How to empower the patient and provide them with the knowledge they need
Part 3: Moving the Patient Forward
The third and final part of the series wraps up the lessons learned and how eye care providers can implement the teachings looking ahead.
What You’ll Learn
- Other conditions that can be detected during an exam
- The major role early detection plays in a patient’s life
- Opportunities to connect vision care to the broader healthcare system
Educating All Ages on Common Vision Conditions
Following the success of the Vision Curriculum kits, EyeMed and The Vision Council Foundation have created Life in Focus: An Interactive Guide to Diabetic Retinopathy, the newest addition to the Life in Focus interactive vision kit series.
The Life in Focus kits are an interactive and unique way to engage patients in your office, providing an educational resource to take home. The latest kits include a guide explaining what diabetic retinopathy is, who’s at risk, symptoms and treatment, as well as a crossword puzzle, and glasses that simulate vision with diabetic retinopathy.
The first two iterations of the kits, Life in Focus: An Interactive Guide to Cataracts and Life in Focus: An Interactive Guide to Diabetic Retinopathy are available for free download now. Up to 15 copies of printed kits can be requested online.
About the Partnership
EyeMed Vision Care® and The Vision Council Foundation have continued their partnership for a second year, building on a shared commitment to elevate awareness of the vital role comprehensive eye care plays in overall health and wellbeing.