Diabetics may face a lifetime of medical challenges and pregnancy can be one of them. For example, pregnancy may cause a rapid increase in the progression of diabetic retinopathy, a potentially blinding complication that damages the eye's retina, perhaps irreversibly. While diabetic patients are routinely advised to have an eye examination early in their pregnancy, numerous barriers can stand in the way: Often, patients don’t understand the critical importance of diagnosis by an ophthalmologist with the right imaging equipment, or they may not have the resources or transportation for yet another physician visit during pregnancy.

Under the direction of Evan Waxman, M.D., Director of the University of Pittsburgh Eye Clinic and the Ophthalmology Residency Program at UPMC, a new Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program will provide a way for these women to overcome these obstacles by providing easy and accessible diagnostic screening using a state-of-the-art Automated Retinal Imaging System that will detect the presence of diabetic retinopathy early in pregnancy.

The FISA Foundation has awarded a grant to the Eye & Ear Institute to purchase a special camera to install at Magee-Women's Hospital for collaborative telemedicine outreach. Targeting underserved pregnant diabetic women who are at risk of losing their sight to rapid onset retinopathy, the testing will also assist with research efforts of the Institute. The plan is to share results with other hospitals in the region and nationally so that the program model can be replicated.