Healthy People 2010--vision objectives for the nation.

BACKGROUND: In January 2000, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new national health goals and objectives in a report entitled Healthy People 2010. This national report includes specific objectives for improving the vision of people in the United States during the 2000-2010 decade through prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. The vision objectives, along with other health objectives, are designed to help the nation achieve two major outcomes: (1) increase the quality and years of healthy life and (2) eliminate health disparities among different groups. These health objectives will strongly influence many health care programs and the provision of health care through laws, regulations, reimbursements, and clinical guidelines enacted by federal and state agencies. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to inform optometrists about the new Healthy People 2010 vision objectives. METHODS: A summary of the Healthy People process for developing the objectives--and the specific vision objectives--is provided. These objectives address many important areas, including: regular dilated eye examinations; vision screening for preschool children; uncorrected visual impairment due to refractive errors; blindness and visual impairment in children and adolescents; visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts; occupational eye injury; the use of personal protective eye wear in recreational activities and hazardous situations around the home; and the use of vision rehabilitation services and adaptive devices by people with visual impairments. CONCLUSION: These new national health goals and objectives will impact optometrists. Therefore, it is important that optometrists understand these objectives and actively work to help implement them at the national, state, and local levels. By doing this, they can help provide the services needed to reduce visual impairments and improve the vision of people in their communities.

A primary care team approach to the prevention of ocular complications of diabetes: a program review.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a serious public health concern. Approximately 7.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease. Researchers estimate an additional 6 to 7 million individuals currently have the disease, but remain undiagnosed. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in Americans 20 to 74 years of age. Disproportionately high rates of diabetes exist within Native American, Hispanic, and black populations. METHODS: This process review documents the experiences of a collaborative primary care team approach to the prevention and treatment of ocular complications of diabetes in patients receiving care at the White Earth Indian Health Center, Bemidji Area Indian Health Service. The White Earth Indian Health Center was one of four primary care clinics that pilot-tested the Minnesota Department of Health Diabetes Control Program. RESULTS: The rate of diabetic eye examination increased to 86% of all individuals diagnosed with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: This article describes the experiences of the White Earth Indian Health Center in establishing priorities, selecting guidelines, and implementing and monitoring a pilot-project for the prevention of ocular complications of diabetes. Application or modifications of this model may be of benefit to other programs that use the primary care team approach in the care and management of diabetes and other chronic disease entities.