TITLE:
Evaluation of the Current Care Pathway for Diabetic Eye Screening in Malta
AUTHORS:
Martina Grech, Sarah Refalo Azzopardi
KEYWORDS:
Diabetic Retinopathy, Audit, Referral, Screening
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases,
Vol.14 No.4,
April
22,
2024
ABSTRACT: Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of preventable vision impairment and a common complication of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy screening can identify early changes in the retina so treatment can be given before vision impairment or blindness occurs. The aim of this audit is to evaluate the diabetic eye screening pathway in Malta to reduce the risk of vision impairment among diabetic patients through the identification and effective management of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy by evaluating adherence to diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines and identifying areas for improvement within the screening pathway at Mater Dei Hospital (MDH). The practical implications of the audit’s findings highlight the importance of more awareness of current guidelines on the recommended time of first eye examination and routine minimum follow up interval at the Endocrinology Department at MDH. 26.7% of the doctors participating in this audit perform fundoscopy on initial assessment only, while 13.3% perform fundoscopy every visit. On the other hand, 60% of the participants never perform fundoscopy.