Preventing Diabetic Blindness with EyePACS, A Low-cost Store-and-Forward Telemedicine System

A pilot project to prevent diabetes-related blindness is being expanded across the state with a goal of serving 100 safety net clinics and 100,000 patients. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults, with 24,000 people with diabetes becoming legally blind each year in the U.S. Early detection through annual screening and treatment of diabetic retinopathy can reduce vision loss by 90 percent. Remote assessment of diabetic retinopathy using telemedicine is an accurate and low-cost way to identify retinal lesions and facilitate appropriate and timely use of specialty care.

UC Berkeley Optometric Eye Center has developed EyePACS, a web-based clinical communication system that has been used successfully for DR screening in diverse clinical settings. The low cost and adaptability of the program is a demonstration of the design principles used to develop EyePACS. Ultimately, any California community clinic that wishes to provide store-and-forward telemedicine services should be able draw on this open-access program to create a low-cost, effective, and sustainable program.