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EHHOP Ophthalmology Clinic (EHHOPhtho)

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This is an EHHOP ancillary clinic and does not require charity care.

For questions, please reach out to the EHHOPhtho Chief TS (see EHHOP Roster).

Senior Clinician

If your patient complains of poor vision

1) Assess the type of vision that is affecting the patient

2a) Distance vision issues

It is useful to use a pinhole occluder to differentiate refractive errors from other causes of blurry vision. A pinhole occluder is in Main Clinic, in the red Diabetes Supply Box kept by the CMs at the front desk. It is in a manila envelope.

Pinhole-GIF64

To use it, have the patient hold it so the big hole is over the eye being tested, and then have them focus on the Snellen chart. Lower the pinhole shield so it is in front of their eye, and finally measure their acuity.

2b) Reading / near vision issues

Presbyopia is the most common cause of near vision issues in the elderly. Main Clinic has reading glasses that can be dispensed to patients, free of charge. If you think the patient could have presbyopia, please follow the reading glasses algorithm and see if these resolve the issue.

If patient is unable to read 20/20 with the reading glasses in main clinic, refer to EHHOPhtho using the form below.

For patients with DM II and needing SCREENING FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY:

First: Educating patients on importance of screening

Patients with diagnosed Type 2 diabetes should have an initial screening for diabetic retinopathy

Patients with mild or no signs of diabetic retinopathy will be seen for re-examination every year to monitor any disease changes

Patients should be counseled to maintain A1C levels <7.0% to prevent diabetic changes in the eye including:

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Diabetic macular edema
  • Retinal detachment
  • Temporary or permanent vision changes
  • Note: Diabetic changes can occur as low as 5.5%. Each 1% increase above 7 increases progression to proliferative diabetic retinopathy by 50%

For more in-depth information see: https://eyewiki.aao.org/Diabetic_Retinopathy_Screening

When assessing if patients have been followed by EHHOPhtho to place a referral you can search for keywords in EPIC search to find potential past notes: “vision”, “ophtho”, “OU”, “OD”, “OS”

To refer a patient after the above steps have been completed, fill out this Google Form.

Teaching Senior

Check the EHHOPhtho tab of the Ancillary Clinic Referrals spreadsheet to see what the SC submitted.

After clinic, the EHHOPhtho team will evaluate referrals and schedule patients for appointments.

Access to Care Team

EHHOPhtho is an EHHOP ancillary clinic. Nothing for ACT to do.

Cost

No additional cost to EHHOP patients.

Wait Time

Up to seven patients can be seen each month. The average wait time is 1-2 months.

For patients with urgent or more complex eye issues, please submit a referral to the ACT referrals sheet to be seen at NYEE or St. Luke's Ophthalmology.

If the patient is having an emergency (severe eye pain, acute vision loss, eye trauma), they should be sent to the Emergency Department for further evaluation.

Location and Contact Information

Eighth floor of CAM (same building as EHHOP Main Clinic: 17 East 102nd Street). Take the west side elevators.

For questions, please reach out to the EHHOPhtho Chief TS (see EHHOP Roster).