Feasibility Study of a Multimodal, Cloud-Based, Diabetic Retinal Screening Program in a Workplace Environment.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss, necessitating accessible screening methods.
• Workplace-based screening programs can improve early detection and management of chronic conditions like diabetes.
• Integrating technology into screening offers scalable and efficient healthcare solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a multimodal, cloud-based diabetic retinal screening program in a workplace setting.
• To evaluate the integration of electronic questionnaires for self-reported data collection.
• To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and other retinal conditions, alongside healthcare utilization and visual function.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional feasibility study was conducted at a corporate health center.
• Participants underwent retinal imaging using ultra-widefield (UWF) color fundus photography (CFP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
• A cloud-based platform facilitated secure image transfer for remote evaluation, complemented by electronic surveys for patient-reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• Out of 100 participants, 33% self-reported diabetes; 85% of these had recent eye exams.
• Undiagnosed mild/moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy was found in 20% of diabetic participants and 8.5% of non-diabetic participants.
• Overall, 20% of participants had retinal findings requiring further evaluation.

Conclusions:

• A cloud-based retinal screening program is feasible and can be conveniently integrated into the workplace.
• The system demonstrated security, scalability, and interoperability for retinal screening.
• This approach facilitates screening in non-traditional healthcare environments, enhancing accessibility.