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BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS NEW PROCEDURE TO DETECT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
06 April 2001 - Boston University
| Ophthalmologists at Boston Medical Center are now able to better detect diabetic retinopathy and prevent further damage to the retina with a new Retinal Imaging Program. Simple, quick and available on a walk-in basis without an appointment, this retinal photography procedure aids in the early detection of retinopathy, and can easily be done when the patient is at the hospital for a primary care visit, just like a blood test or x-ray. |
Ophthalmologists at Boston Medical Center are now able to better detect diabetic retinopathy and prevent further damage to the retina with a new Retinal Imaging Program. Simple, quick and available on a walk-in basis without an appointment, this retinal photography procedure aids in the early detection of retinopathy, and can easily be done when the patient is at the hospital for a primary care visit, just like a blood test or x-ray. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels of the retina. Blood vessels deteriorate, causing leakage of fluid from the vessels into the central part of the retina, called the macula (hence the name maculopathy), leading to blurred vision. In a more severe type of retinopathy called proliferative retinopathy, new fragile blood vessels grow and often bleed. This bleeding causes scarring and may lead to blindness. "Most visual loss can be prevented with early treatment, but this pre-supposes that patients with diabetes obtain examination of the retina in a timely fashion," said Edward Feinberg, MD, MPH, an associate clinical professor of Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine. Nationwide, only half of all patients with diabetes meet clinical guidelines for annual retina examinations. Feinberg and his colleague, V. R. LaRocca, MD, MPH, a research associate at BUSM, found that similar to national levels, about 67 percent of diabetic patients at BMC obtain annual retina examinations. "Our goal is to achieve retinal examinations rates of over 90 percent for diabetic patients under the care of our primary care doctors." With retinal photography, a doctor is provided with a photographic record of the major internal eye structures, presenting a wider, complete and more detailed view which enables the doctor to better detect and treat subtle changes in the retina. According to Feinberg, the procedure aids in this early detection and is quite simple. "In the past, many patients were not being seen because of the need to make an appointment for a complete exam and return on a different day. Now it can all be done in 15 minutes without dilating drops." "In addition to eliminating preventable blindness, knowledge of the retinopathy status of an individual is a critical link in the comprehensive care process," added Feinberg. "The changes in the retinal vessels, which are uniquely visible, reflect the changes in the blood vessels in other less readily examined organs. Knowledge of the status and rate of change affects management decisions in diabetes, hypertension and lipid abnormalities, and vice versa."
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Boston University has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in research in a wide range of disciplines and a demonstrated commitment to fostering innovative interdisciplinary research. The Office of the Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Education supports the University in facilitating research at the both the student and faculty levels.Our mission is to enhance and encourage research at Boston University and to provide a climate conducive to maintaining the University at the cutting edge of research and scholarly activities. We work with the Boston University community to plan and coordinate interdisciplinary research and represent the University in research matters related to Inter-University consortia. To encourage new, innovative, and cross-disciplinary efforts, this office administers the Special Program for Research Initiation Grants (SPRInG). We showcase graduate research at Science & Technology Day. This annual event features nearly 200 research posters by graduate students from both the Medical and Charles River Campuses working in a wide range of disciplines. Our annual research magazine, Research at Boston University, informs a wide audience about a selection of our significant research findings and ongoing studies at Boston University. We also maintain a strong presence on the web through this site and through the Science Coalition’s website, which brings our research successes to the attention of Congress and other policy makers in the federal government. To assist Boston University researchers, this office oversees the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and coordinates with the Office of Sponsored Programs on the Charles River Campus , the research administration on the Medical Campus, the Office of Research Compliance, and the various graduate programs. For the development of commercially viable ideas, we administer the Provost's Innovation Fund and work closely with the Office of Technology Transfer. We also coordinate proposals where there are institutional limits to the number of proposals that may be submitted, cost sharing requirements, significant laboratory renovations, or other special circumstances. This office assists departments and centers to achieve a diverse faculty and graduate student body through our membership and activities with the Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate and through our affiliation with the Clare Boothe Luce program of the Henry Luce Foundation. |
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