Programs

Community Programs

Vision Project

Diabetes can harm the eyes and cause vision loss. When blood sugar gets too high, it can damage the blood vessels in the eyes and this may lead to diabetic retinopathy, which is a leading cause of blindness. For people with diabetes, a dilated retinal eye exam by an eye care professional is recommended once a year. Finding and treating the disease early is the best way to control diabetic eye disease before it causes vision loss or blindness. The following is a DPCP initiative aimed at increasing access to dilated eye exams for people with diabetes:

New Mexico Vision Project for People with Diabetes- final report

In 2006, while reviewing the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) insurance data from 2001-2005 and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 1999-2005, the DPCP noted that rates of dilated eye exams among people with diabetes were inconsistent and not showing improvement. In January 2007, the DPCP and New Mexico Health Care Takes On Diabetes convened statewide eye health partners to address the issue.

The aim of the subsequent vision project was to identify factors that keep eye exams from occurring as frequently as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), select activities to address these factors and pilot the activities to evaluate their effectiveness. Ben Archer Health Centers in southern NM piloted the project and provided key insights about barriers in accessing vision screenings and follow-up care. The results of the vision project were recently summarized in a final report available by clicking here.

For more information on the New Mexico Vision Project for People with Diabetes-

contact Charm Lindblad at 1-866-796-9121 and clind48535@aol.com or Pam Kovach, RN at (505) 476-7611 and Pamela.Kovach@state.nm.us