Opthamologist treats '4Sight'

Opthamology Professor Stuart Fine became concerned when many of his diabetic patients began to go blind -- which could have been prevented had the patients gone for yearly eye exams. So the chairperson of the University's Scheie Eye Institute decided to do something about it. And after receiving a recent $75,000 grant, Fine's dream -- the West Philadelphia Prevention of Blindness Project, otherwise known as "4Sight" -- is one step closer to reality. In 1994, Fine began planning the establishment of a center available to diabetics for eye examinations -- to be run through the institute -- and hired Pamela Johnson to help develop it. "He would see patients with the same advanced stages of blindness he saw 20 years ago -- which is disturbing considering the effective technology available now to prevent them from losing their vision," Johnson explained. The program is designed to provide diabetics in the West Philadelphia area with eye examinations, counseling and education about some of the eye-related risks -- such as diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness for people ages 20-74 -- which they face. And if "4Sight" is successful, administrators plan to expand it beyond West Philadelphia. Johnson explained that if the disorder is detected early, doctors can prevent blindness through laser surgery. But once the patient experiences cloudy vision or any other symptoms it is often too late to prevent full loss of eyesight. "Blindness from diabetic retinopathy can be treated," she said. "But it's like cancer -- the earlier it's found, the better the survival of vision." Johnson added that it is important for diabetics to have eye examinations each year so that the condition can be detected early. But she noted that only half of the estimated 16,000 diabetic adults in West Philadelphia have had a recent eye examination. Surveys and "4Sight" focus groups determined that the estimated 800 diabetics have not gotten annual eye examinations because they are not aware of their importance, could not afford them and did not have the means of travelling to the exam. "4Sight" plans to alleviate these problems. If the project is fully implemented, it will educate and counsel diabetics about the importance of yearly eye examinations and provide eye examinations and transportation for the diabetics. The program plans to reach diabetics by contacting churches, community centers and sororities and fraternities -- as well as through word of mouth. But the grant -- which the group received in October -- only provides funding for the project's planning stages. In September, "4Sight" will submit its final proposal for a grant to fund implementation of the entire project at a cost of over $100,000. Johnson is currently meeting with consultants to work out program details and get written support from community groups to include in the program's final grant proposal.