Term: Diabetes Care: Prevalence of Annual Eye Exams

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2020-05-19

Definition:

Individuals with diabetes are at a greater risk of damage to the retina than the general population. In the later stages of diabetes, individuals may develop diabetic retinopathy (non-inflammatory damage to the retina), which causes the swelling of blood vessels in the retina and leaking of fluid or the abnormal growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can develop without symptoms and, when left untreated, may cause loss of vision or blindness, so regular eye examinations for diabetics help to diagnose retinopathy early and slow its progression.

This indicator measures the proportion of residents age 19+ with diabetes who had an eye exam in a given year, defined by a visit to an Ophthalmologist (MD Bloc=051) or an Optometrist (MD Bloc=053).

NOTE:

• Eye examinations were identified through physician tariff codes in the medical services (physician claims) data, and as such, only those ophthalmologists or optometrists who billed Manitoba Health would be captured here. People with diabetes who paid the physician for the eye examination directly, or through third-party insurance, would not be counted. However, all people with diabetes are eligible for a free eye examination as required or at the discretion of the physician (Health Services Insurance Act (C.C.S.M. c.H35) Optometric Services Insurance Regulation. Regulation 50/93). As a result, this indicator under-estimates eye exam rates to some degree.
  
  
• In Katz et al. (2014), they restricted analysis to persons with diabetes aged 20 - 79 who had at least one eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Note that if a patient had a diabetes diagnosis in both years then they need 2 eye exams to be counted.
  
  
• In Fransoo et al. (2019), they investigated the percent of residents age 19 and older with diabetes who had an eye exam in a given year. For more information, see section 6.3 Diabetes Care: Eye Examinations in Fransoo et al. (2019).

Related concepts 

• Diabetes - Measuring Prevalence
• Health Indicators: Indicators of Health Status and Healthcare Use

Related terms 

• Diabetes / Diabetes Mellitus
• Diabetes Treatment Prevalence
• Indicators of Quality Primary Care / Primary Care Quality Indicators
• Ophthalmologist
• Optometrist

References 

• Chartier M, Finlayson G, Prior H, McGowan K, Chen H, de Rocquigny J, Walld R, Gousseau M. Health and Healthcare Utilization of Francophones in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, Burland E, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C. Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas 2009. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2009. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Katz A, Bogdanovic B, Soodeen R. Physician Integrated Network Baseline Evaluation: Linking Electronic Medical Records and Administrative Data. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Martens PJ, Bartlett J, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Huq S, Romphf L, Sanguins J, Carter S, Bailly A. Profile of Metis Health Status and Healthcare Utilization in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2010. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)

Term used in 

• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Burland E, Prior H, Burchill C, Chateau D, Walld R. Sex Differences in Health Status, Health Care Use, and Quality of Care: A Population-Based Analysis for Manitoba's Regional Health Authorities. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2005. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Martens P, The Need to Know Team, Prior H, Burchill C, Koseva I, Bailly A, Allegro E. The 2013 RHA Indicators Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Fransoo R, Mahar A, The Need to Know Team, Anderson A, Prior H, Koseva I, McCulloch S, Jarmasz J, Burchill S. The 2019 RHA Indicators Atlas. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2019. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
• Katz A, Chateau D, Bogdanovic B, Taylor C, McGowan K-L, Rajotte L, Dziadek J. Physician Integrated Network: A Second Look. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2014. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] (View)