Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the diagnostic value of non-mydriatic fundus photography for diabetic retinopathy screening in rural versus urban academic clinical centers.
Methods: :
Retrospective chart review of all patients screened for diabetic retinopathy using non-mydriatic fundus photography in medical clinics in the remote California Indian villages and in a family practice clinic at a major academic urban medical center. Screening criteria were subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and/or without a dilated fundus examination in over 1 year.Results; Among 100 subjects screened at rural sites, diagnostic images were obtained in 94 subjects. Among these 94 subjects, fundus abnormalities were noted in 33% of subjects and diabetic retinopathy was noted in 5.3% of subjects. Among 115 subjects screened at the urban academic center, diagnostic fundus images were obtained in 100 subjects. Among these 100 subjects, fundus abnormalities were noted in 54% of subjects and diabetic retinopathy was noted in 31% of subjects.
Conclusions: :
Non-mydriatic fundus photography is a useful screening tool for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy and other fundus abnormalities in both rural and urban clinical centers. A surprisingly higher incidence of diabetic retinopathy was noted in subjects screened at the urban academic center when compared to the remote rural sites.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy