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Study shows eye exams re-engage patients into health care system
A study conducted by UnitedHealthcare involving 2,300 of its plan participants showed that 57% of those with chronic health conditions who received a comprehensive eye exam re-engaged with a primary care physician or specialist to manage their ongoing illness.
The study looked at patients with these seven chronic conditions: Crohn’s disease, diabetes, Graves’ disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to a United Healthcare press release.
“The results are important considering many people visit their eye care doctor more frequently than their primary care provider,” the release stated.
This report builds on the findings of a previous United Healthcare study published in 2014 that showed how comprehensive eye exams can help eye doctors identify some of these chronic conditions, according to the company.
United Healthcare shared some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: nearly one of every two adults suffers from at least one chronic condition, and one-fourth have two or more. Seventy million people have hypertension, 73.5 million have high LDL cholesterol, and more than 29 million have diabetes.
“This study demonstrates the important role comprehensive eye exams play in re-engaging patients into care, especially for chronic conditions,” Linda Chous, OD, chief eye care officer for UnitedHealthcare Vision, said in the release. “When patients are reconnected into care, the prevention of disease progression and complications can be realized, which may contribute to improved patient health and reduced costs.”