Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2017

177 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.BestofMP.com feature W e’ve all heard alarming stories about diabetes and some of the worst-case scenarios that can result from this disease – amputations, kidney damage, nerve damage and a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks. One scenario many people may not be aware of is a loss of eyesight – this disease is the number one cause of adult-onset blindness. It’s a major public health problem with debilitating consequences if left undiagnosed and untreated. The number of affected individuals is expected to rise, but the key is early detection. Several local ophthalmologists and one resident-in-training at the Medical University of South Carolina Storm Eye Institute are hoping to tackle the growing problem. They recently launched a diabetic tele- screening program aimed primarily at helping low income patients and those without insurance. Dr. George Magrath, Dr. Jeffrey Blice, Dr. Emil Say and resident Dr. Allan Sharpe were awarded grant money from the prestigious Duke Endowment to purchase four state-of-the-art camera systems that can easily test a patient for diabetes in a matter of minutes. “The process of getting these machines started a year ago,” Dr. Magrath said. “Dr. Sharpe applied for a grant, and we were recently awarded enough money to finally purchase them.” While there are already cameras used to test a patient’s eyes for diabetes, Magrath said the machines are older and require dilation of the eyes and a trained professional to administer the test. “These new cameras don’t require dilation, can be used in any health clinic and are almost foolproof,” he pointed out. The main goal of this program is to promote early detection of damage to the eye from diabetes, otherwise known as diabetic retinopathy. Many patients with diabetes develop undetected changes in the eye because they are unable to see an eye care provider for a variety of reasons. Dr. Sharpe said the idea is to put the specialized cameras into primary care clinics so that a patient can get screening at the same time as his or her regular checkup at no extra cost. “Therefore,” he added, “we’re removing many of the barriers, like costs and transportation, that patients currently face.” “I’ve witnessed numerous patients referred for treatment at very severe stages of the disease,” Dr. Sharpe added. “The eye care team and I wondered how we could promote earlier identification of it and therefore have a better chance of early treatment to prevent blindness.” After recognizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment, Dr. Magrath said they Left to right: Drs. Allan Sharpe, Jeffrey Blice, George Magrath and Emil say. BY DIANE PAULDINE A Vision for South Carolina DetectingDiabetes Early ...continued on page 179