Mark W. Stolar, MD - A Call to Action for Primary Care Professionals: Your Role in Saving the Eyesight of Patients With Diabetes

Go online to PeerView.com/FZP860 to view the activity, download slides and practice aids, and complete the post-test to earn credit. Timely screenings and referrals to eye care specialists for diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME) can make a real difference between good vision and blindness in patients with diabetes. But exactly when should patients with diabetes be screened for DR/DME in the primary care setting and which signs and symptoms should trigger a referral to specialty care? In this activity, based on a recent live virtual symposium, leading experts review guideline recommendations for DR/DME screening and referral in the primary care setting and present realistic patient cases to explore best practices and improve vision outcomes for patients with diabetes. Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to: Describe the roles of primary care professionals in the screening and referral process for DR/DME and other diabetic eye diseases; Coordinate timely and appropriate referral to eye care specialists who can utilize effective treatment regimens for DR/DME and other diabetic eye diseases; and Incorporate interprofessional and multidisciplinary strategies to overcome barriers to referral using an integrated system of care approach for screening, diagnosis, and treatment of vision-threatening diabetic eye complications such as DR/DME.