Glenn Yiu.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Glenn Yiu, a professor of ophthalmology at UC Davis Health, has received a $2 million grant to lead an interdisciplinary program, the Collaborative UC Teleophthalmology Initiative (CUTI), with the goal of improving eyecare for people with diabetes. The announcement was made by the UC Office of the President. The project, part of UCOP Multicampus Research Programs & Initiatives, is in partnership with medical centers at UC San Diego, UC San Francisco and UC Los Angeles. CUTI builds on a screening program Yiu launched at UC Davis Health in 2018. The goal is to expand eyecare access for diabetics, particularly for underserved populations. The project will utilize digital medical equipment for teleophthalmology or “remote” ophthalmology. A key feature of the CUTI program is integrating digital eye screenings into routine care at primary care facilities or clinics for patients with diabetes.
 
“Teleophthalmology provides a convenient way to get your eyes screened for diabetic retinopathy and other ocular disorders during a routine visit to the primary care physician,” Yiu said. “It also enhances eyecare access for those who do not live near an ophthalmologist.”
 
Since launching a separate pilot teleophthalmology program at UC Davis in 2018, Yiu has improved diabetic eye screening rates by more than 15 percent, helping to make UC Davis Health one of the top performers in the country.