Free Eye Screening Available for Diabetics

If you are diabetic and have not had a retinal screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in the last year, here is a deal for you. Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS) is partnering with Lafayette General Health to provide free retinal screenings for Diabetic Retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 18-64.

The free screening will be offered on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lafayette General Medical Center’s (LGMC) Owen Auditorium. The 5-minute test is open to anyone with diabetes that has not had a Diabetic Retinopathy eye test within the last year. Eyes will NOT be dilated for the test.

LGMC is located at 1214 Coolidge Street and offers free valet parking at the main entrance of the hospital. Owen Auditorium is located on the first floor, across the hall from the hospital cafeteria.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all patients with diabetes receive an annual eye test for Diabetic Retinopathy. Up to 60 percent of diabetics go untested each year, leading to unnecessary vision loss for hundreds of thousands of patients. The risk of irreversible vision loss can be reduced by 95% with early detection and appropriate follow-up care.

Participating in the IRIS screening is helping to take a stand against Diabetic Retinopathy.