Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening condition that causes progressive retina damage. Student-run free clinics represent a valuable opportunity to provide DR screenings to high-risk populations. We characterized the patient population, evaluated the performance, and conducted a needs assessment of DR screenings at the University of California, San Diego Student-Run Ophthalmology Free Clinic, which provides care to predominantly uninsured, Latino patients.
Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients seen at the free clinic since 2019 with a diagnosis of type II diabetes. Date and outcome of all DR-related screenings or visits from 2015 onward, demographics information, and DR risk factors such as A1c and insulin dependence were recorded. Predictors of diabetic retinopathy and frequency of DR screenings for each patient were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, t-test for equality of means, and Pearson's correlation.
Results: Of 179 uninsured diabetic patients receiving care at the free clinic, 71% were female and average age was 59. 83% had hypertension, 93% had hyperlipidemia, and 79% had metabolic syndrome. Prevalence of non-proliferative DR was 34% and that of proliferative DR was 15% in diabetic patients. The free clinic capacity in recent years plateaued at just under 50% of patients seen for DR screening or visit per year, though average wait time was over 2 years between visits. Patients with higher no-show rates had less frequent DR screenings. Chronic kidney disease and poor glycemic control were the strongest predictors of DR.
Conclusion: The student-run free ophthalmology clinic has been effective in providing screening and follow-up care for DR patients. Creation of a protocol to identify which patients are at highest risk of DR and should be seen more urgently, addressing no-shows, and implementation of a tele-retina program are potential avenues for improving clinic efficiency in a resource-limited setting for vulnerable populations.