Michigan Eyes on Diabetes is a community based pilot collaboration with representatives from the Michigan Department of Community Health’s Diabetic Prevention and Control Program, the Michigan Optometric Association (AOA), SouthEast Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network (SEMDON), the Lions Clubs of Michigan and local retinal specialists. 

The collaboration is a direct outgrowth of Healthy Eyes – Healthy People 2010, which is a program developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve Americans’ health regardless of income, race or ethnicity.  Healthy Vision 2010 has 10 specific goals for improving eye health.  The focus of Michigan Eyes on Diabetes is to “reduce visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy by raising awareness of the need for an annual dilated retinal examination for persons with diabetes.”

Estimates from the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) indicate that as many as 400,000 people in Michigan have diabetes and only 40 to 50 percent of them receive an annual dilated eye examination. 

The National Institute of Health estimates that in Michigan, one third of persons with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. 

Michigan Eyes on Diabetes has established a panel of optometrists and ophthalmologists in the tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland and Macomb) that will serve as a referral source for people with diabetes to obtain dilated retinal examinations.  The Primary Care Provider (PCP) will be requested to stress the need for their patients who have diabetes to have a dilated retinal evaluation with their family eye care provider.  Those without their own “eye doctor” will be referred to Michigan Eyes on Diabetes for a list of participating providers in their area.  Primary Care Providers will hand out forms with a request to eye care providers to fill-out the form and fax them back to the PCP.   

Optometric Institute and Clinic of Metropolitan Detroit (OICMD) will see the majority of uninsured diabetic participants.  Optical Dimensions of Royal Oak Michigan is providing funding for these evaluations (uninsured).     

American Optometric Association guidelines for referral of retinopathy will be utilized in combination with guidelines established by the participating retinal specialists.

A contingency of local retinal specialists will provide services for laser when bleeding is sight-threatening.

For further information contact Michigan Eyes on Diabetes at (313) 872-6011.