Vision Source and Optos Team to Advance Diabetic Eye Care
Vision Source and Optos Fight Diabetic Eye Disease This Diabetes Awareness Month
KINGWOOD, Texas (November 21, 2016) – This November Vision Source and Optos are proud to highlight innovative advancements in diabetic eye care in honor of National Diabetes Awareness month. Every 23 seconds someone in America is diagnosed with diabetes. This disease interferes with the body's ability to both store and use glucose, which can lead to damage throughout the body, including one’s eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive condition resulting in damage to the retina causing sight-threatening diabetic complications.
Optos, the leading medical retinal imaging company, conducted a four-year clinical study which found that patients dealing with diabetic lesions had an increased risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. By pairing diabetic patients with certified Vision Source optometrists, patients have access to revolutionary early detection through Optos imaging technologies. Vision Source, North America’s largest independent optometric alliance has responded to the diabetes epidemic, through the continued enhancement of BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocols. An exclusive training program that highlights the emphasis of quality diabetic vision care, BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocols utilizes state of the art equipment to personalize the patient experience.
“At Optos, we are pleased to know that our products are helping patients living with diabetes have access to highly personalized care. By utilizing our retina imaging technology and receiving certification through Vision Source programs, independent optometrists have the ability to provide effective treatment plans for maintaining diabetic patient eye health,” states Optos Deputy Chief Executive Officer Quinn Lyzun. “We are proud to invest in diabetic research and team with organizations like Vision Source to improve healthcare outcomes for those living with diabetes.”
The optometrists comprising the Vision Source network are equipped to diagnose and care for patients with diabetes. To further enhance the consistency of care and collaboration with other clinicians, Vision Source introduced a set of evidence-based clinical care guidelines derived from research and practice experience. BrainStream Diabetes Practice Protocols is a continuing education course offered exclusively to Vision Source optometrists as a guide for detecting and monitoring diabetes. In addition, Optos is an elite vendor for Vision Source allowing the optometrists in the network to have cost-effective retinal imaging equipment to diagnose and monitor diabetic patients, thus assisting other clinicians in the management of the disease.
“We are thrilled to offer best-in-class training to enhance the healthcare experience and outcomes for those living with diabetes,” says Vision Source President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Greenwood. “Through the expertise of thousands of skilled clinicians, local medical directors, the exclusive BrainStream Diabetic Practice Protocols training and the strong relationship with Optos, we represent a unique solution to the country’s most pressing health challenge. These attributes have enabled us to create scores of collaborative care relationships with leading medical groups and integrated health systems to provide early diabetic detection and personalized diabetic eye care to millions of patients.”
About Vision Source
Founded in 1991, Vision Source is North America’s largest network of independent optometrists consisting of over 4,000 doctors. The clinicians in the Vision Source network enjoy access to newly evolving patient channels, including an expanding list of leading medical groups and integrated health systems with whom Vision Source optometrists collaborate. Additionally, members benefit from a wide range of innovative technologies, practice management tools, strategic marketing, and unsurpassed purchasing power. Leveraging these tools, clinicians offer comprehensive eye care to their patients, including the 14 million exams conducted in 2015, delivering an industry leading patient experience. For more information, call 888-558-2020 or visit www.visionsource.com.
About Optos
Optos plc has the vision to be The Retina Company and recognized as a leading provider of devices to eyecare professionals for improved patient care. Optos' core devices produce ultra-widefield (UWF™), high resolution digital images (optomap®) of approximately 82% and 200◦ of the retina, something no other device is capable of doing in any single image. An optomap image provides a bigger picture and more clinical information which facilitates the early detection, management and effective treatment of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina such as retinal detachments and tears, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as hypertension and certain cancers. For more information, visit www.optos.com.