DR. LATHIKA VASU KAMALADEVI

DR. MERINE PAUL

Abstract

DREAM(Diabetic Retinopathy Evaluation And Management) is a novel model of cooperative, subsidised eye care delivery system for Diabetic Retinopathy screening and management. It involves collaborative effort of ophthalmologists across different health sectors and community medicine specialists, coordinated by a District Ophthalmic Club. District Ophthalmic Clubs can play a pivotal role in providing a common platform for health care personnel from diverse sectors to collaborate in public health initiatives against diabetic retinopathy. Our model is a shining example of how such successful intra and inter specialty partnership across health sectors with active involvement of community medicine specialists in a spirit of cooperation can translate into effective community ophthalmology services. If scaled up to the national level, ophthalmic clubs adopting similar models can go a long way in mitigating the burden of diabetic retinopathy blindness in the underserved population in India