Important Facts for Dilated Eye Exams Among Persons with Diabetes
Definition
Percentage of persons aged 18 years and older with diagnosed diabetes who have had a dilated eye exam within the past year.Numerator
Number of persons aged 18 years and older with diagnosed diabetes interviewed for this survey who reported that they had a dilated eye exam within the past yearDenominator
Total number of persons aged 18 years and older with diagnosed diabetes interviewed during the same survey periodData Interpretation Issues
Data from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey are intended to represent non-institutionalized adults in households with telephones. Data are collected using a random sample of all possible telephone numbers. Prior to analysis, data are weighted to represent the population distribution of adults by age, sex, and "race"/ethnicity. As with all surveys, however, some residual bias may result from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions) and measurement error (e.g., social desirability or recall). Attempts are made to minimize such error by use of a strict calling protocol (up to 15 calls are made to reach each household), good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision. Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm].)Why Is This Important?
Individuals with diabetes are at a greater risk for eye related health problems than those without diabetes. A dilated eye exam tests for diabetic retinopathy which is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. Timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care of diabetic retinopathy can reduce the risk of blindness up to 95% according to the National Eye Institute.Healthy People Objective: Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who have an annual dilated eye examination
U.S. Target: 58.7 percent (age-adjusted)State Target: 80.0 percent (age-adjusted)