Eyenuk Teams with the American Academy of Ophthalmology to Provide AI-Driven Eye Disease Screening for Delaware’s Underserved Populations
October 16 2024 - 8:05AM
Eyenuk, a global artificial intelligence (AI) digital health
company and the leader in real-world AI Eye Screening™ and AI
Predictive Biomarkers™, has collaborated with the American Academy
of Ophthalmology and its EyeCare America program to provide eye
disease screening for underserved communities in Delaware.
Under the program, primary care providers in Federally Qualified
Health Centers (FQHCs) are using Eyenuk’s EyeArt® AI Eye
Screening system to autonomously detect diabetic retinopathy, the
leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. The program is
currently available at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, an FQHC
with locations in Wilmington and Claymont, DE serving low-income,
underserved, and minority populations who are disproportionately
affected by diabetes and its complications.
While one in 11 Americans receives healthcare at an FQHC, few of
the centers currently offer eye disease screenings. This program
aims to bridge that gap by providing easy access to diabetic
retinopathy screenings during routine primary care visits.
The FDA-cleared EyeArt AI system greatly expands the
availability of vision-saving eye screenings by making automated AI
diagnosis and coordination of care possible in primary care medical
practices without the need for a specialist’s review. The system is
integrated with retinal imaging cameras and can be operated by
clinical support staff to generate a detailed screening report in
less than 10 seconds.
Patients found to have signs of diabetic retinopathy through the
EyeArt system will be referred locally, including to volunteer
ophthalmologists participating in the Academy’s EyeCare America
program for further evaluation and treatment.
“Many patients with diabetes don’t visit an eye doctor
regularly, often because they lack access or are unaware of the
risks,” said Paula Ko, MD, an ophthalmologist and President of the
Delaware Academy of Ophthalmologists. “With the EyeArt system at
Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, we can give a lot more patients
who do not go to the eye doctor access to diabetic eye screening.
Our goal is to have other healthcare facilities offer this
technology throughout Delaware so all Delawareans will have access
to early screening and detection.”
“We are so excited to be a pilot for a program that will truly
save the sight of those who might not otherwise have such support,”
said Yvette Gbemudu, MD, a family practice physician at Henrietta
Johnson Medical Center. “We are hoping that by changing the care of
our diabetic patients we can begin to change the vision of
diabetics nationwide and eventually those with other eye ailments,
including glaucoma. I believe that finding eye problems early will
also lead to the individual investing in improving their overall
health.”
More than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes,
putting them at high risk for eye disease, particularly diabetic
retinopathy. Since this condition often has no symptoms in its
early stages, regular eye exams are necessary to prevent vision
loss. Early detection and timely treatment can reduce the risk of
severe complications, but many individuals in underserved
communities do not receive routine screenings.
Early Results Reveal Widespread Disease
In the first five months of the program at Henrietta Johnson
Medical Center, over one-quarter (26%) of patients with images
gradable by EyeArt tested positive for either more-than-mild or
vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. This alarming statistic
underscores the importance of accessible screening in reducing
preventable blindness among vulnerable populations.
“Eyenuk is proud to support this initiative by bringing the
power of AI to the frontlines of healthcare,” said Bryan Haardt,
CEO of Eyenuk. “Our mission is to make diabetic eye screening
available to all at-risk populations, especially those who face
barriers to specialty care. This collaboration with the Academy and
Henrietta Johnson Medical Center is a critical step in addressing
this public health challenge.”
Decades of research have shown that diabetes disproportionately
affects racial and ethnic minority and low-income populations, with
higher rates of diabetes complications and mortality. The Delaware
program is part of a larger effort to ensure that vulnerable
communities have access to the tools needed to prevent vision loss
and improve overall health outcomes.
Through the continued support of Eyenuk and volunteer
ophthalmologists in the Academy’s EyeCare America program, this
initiative aims to reduce preventable blindness by expanding access
to diabetic retinopathy screening across Delaware.
About Eyenuk
Eyenuk, Inc. is a global artificial intelligence (AI) digital
health company and the leader in real-world AI Eye Screening™ for
autonomous disease detection and AI Predictive Biomarkers™ for risk
assessment and disease surveillance. Eyenuk is on a mission to
screen every eye in the world to ensure timely diagnosis of life-
and vision-threatening diseases, including diabetic retinopathy,
glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, stroke risk,
cardiovascular risk, and Alzheimer’s disease. Find Eyenuk online on
its website, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest
association of eye physicians and surgeons. The mission of the
Academy is to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an
advocate for patients and the public, leading ophthalmic education,
and advancing the profession of ophthalmology.
About Henrietta Johnson Medical Center
Henrietta Johnson Medical Center is a Federally Qualified Health
Center (FQHC) in Delaware that provides comprehensive primary care
and specialty services to underserved populations, with a focus on
improving access to quality healthcare for all.
- Eyenuk exam
- Patient screening
Todd Stein
Todd Stein Communications for Eyenuk
510-417-0612
todd@toddsteincommunications.com