VSP provider Earl Malone, OD examines a Mississippi patient in need
The VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign provided more than 200 Mississippians in need with free health services in Biloxi on February 13, including comprehensive eye exams and health risk assessments for diabetes and high blood pressure at the Coastal Family Health Center.
In honor of the campaign, Governor Phil Bryant declared February 9th “Eye on Diabetes Day in Mississippi,” and Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway visited the event and declared February 13th “Eye on Diabetes Day in Biloxi.”
“I think this campaign is very important to the community, because if it wasn’t for you (VSP Eye on Diabetes) here, a lot of people probably wouldn’t come and get a diagnosis of what they may not know they have,” said Mayor Holloway. ”I think it’s very important and I’m sure the people appreciate you coming here to our community.”
Kim Rankin, VSP, Earl Malone, OD, Angel Greer, Coastal Family Health Center, and Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway proclaim "Eye on Diabetes Day in Biloxi"
Mississippi ranks as the second highest state for overall diabetes prevalence. It is estimated that 372,000 Mississippians have been diagnosed with diabetes and more than 100,000 Mississippians have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious health consequences, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, amputations, and even death, with the total diabetes related cost in Mississippi estimated to be $1.7 billion per year.
The campaign utilizes the VSP Mobile Eyes program and partners with local VSP network eye doctors, state optometric associations and diabetes associations to provide the free health services. Patients who have or are at risk for diabetes are examined onboard a VSP Mobile Eye Clinic outfitted with state-of-the-art exam rooms, dispensaries and a finishing lab.
“I really am excited about being able to take care of these patients. A lot of these patients don’t know anything about their eyes. They don’t know whether they have cataracts or diabetic retinopathy, so we’re trying to help them see better and give them a better outcome in life,” said VSP Provider Earl Malone, OD, who examined the patients onboard the VSP Mobile Eye Clinic. “The Eye on Diabetes campaign is very important to this community, because the people we serve have no idea of what’s going on with their eyes. Everyone rushed in here this morning, and if we did it again tomorrow we’d have the same result.
Since the campaign’s inception in May 2010, more than 3,200 people have been helped in nine states. Nearly 50 VSP network doctors who have participated in the campaign have identified both serious eye and general health-related conditions in patients. More than 160 people have been referred to a medical professional for additional treatment.
“People need to know about their eye health and their general health because they go hand-in-hand,” added Malone. “If you have diabetes and your blood vessels are starting to leak blood a little bit, one of the first places you see that is in the eye. This could also be happening in the brain, kidneys and liver. It’s important to catch these diseases early because the earlier you catch them, the easier they are to treat. If they’re easier to treat, then you’re going to save this person’s vision and you may even save their life, because you help them become aware of other things they may be having problems with.”
The campaign was created in response to the increasing spread of diabetes across the U.S. with over 25 million Americans diagnosed with the disease and another 79 million who are pre-diabetic or at risk. A lot of consumers are unaware that diabetes can be detected through an annual eye exam and regular exams are an important and cost-effective measure in managing the impact of diabetes.
The VSP Mobile Eye Clinic also visited the Mississippi State Capitol on February 9th as state legislators met with Mississippi optometrists and Mississippi Optometric Association president Reggie Dampier, OD to tour the 45-foot-long clinic.
“We are excited to partner with VSP in bringing the Eye on Diabetes campaign to Mississippi,” said Dampier. “Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults in the U.S., yet 90 percent of all cases of blindness from diabetes can be prevented. Through greater knowledge and understanding, we want to help educate consumers to incorporate positive preventative care behaviors, such as annual eye exams, into their lives.”
Stay tuned to the VSP Blog for updates from the VSP Eye on Diabetes campaign as it rolls on to visit Columbus, OH, Sacramento and Torrance, CA and Pittsburgh, PA in 2012!
WATCH: WLOX ABC13 in Biloxi covers the Eye on Diabetes event