Abstract
Purpose :
Introduction:
The low income populations have limited access to health services due to inadequate health literacy. This creates signifiacnt gaps in health care delivery among low income populations. Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes (AJFTLE) has developed novel approaches to increases the accessibility, affordability and quality of health care services to the slum populations via innovative health care delivery models. AJFTLE eye care delivery model shows a range of innovations in health care delivery which have the ability to better serve the poor’s health care.
Objective:
Evaluation of usefulness of a portable, non-invasive, non-mydriatic fundus camera, as an effective screening device for ophthalmic diseases in under-served locations.
Methods :
Methods: 348 known cases of diabetes were screened using the portable fundus imaging
camera, ‘3nethra’, for various ophthalmic diseases (including cataract, glaucoma and
diabetic retinopathy) in three different settings of screening camps.
Results :
Result: A total of 696 diabetic eyes were screened, of whom 23% (n=82) patients were
diagnosed with potential eye diseases. Among them, the incidence of cataract, various
stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma and miscellaneous eye disorders was 8.5%
(n=30), 10.8% (n=38), 1.7% (n=6) and 2.3% (n=8) respectively.
Conclusions :
Conclusion: Ocular screening by technicians using a portable non-mydriatic camera helped
in effective screening of the study participants by accurately identifying those requiring
prompt referral to the ophthalmologist for detailed evaluation and definitive management.
The utilisation of ‘3nethra’ can ensure faster and more accurate screening and diagnosis of
various ocular disorders while reducing the cost and manpower required in the screening process, especially when used in underserved areas.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.