Implementing point-of-care retinal screening
The Opportunity in Primary Care
Primary care providers see the majority of patients with diabetes. For many of these patients, the annual visit to a PCP or endocrinologist is their most consistent point of contact with the healthcare system — making it the single best opportunity to close the gap in retinal screening.
How Point-of-Care Screening Works
Autonomous AI retinal screening integrates into a primary care workflow in three steps. First, a non-mydriatic fundus camera — a compact, easy-to-operate device — captures images of the patient's retina. No dilation is required. Second, the images are analyzed automatically by the AI system. Third, a result is returned in real time: either no referable retinopathy detected, or a referral recommended.
The entire process takes less than five minutes and does not require clinical expertise to perform. Medical assistants and front-desk staff can be trained to operate the camera.
Reimbursement
Autonomous AI retinal screening is reimbursable under CPT code 92229, which was established specifically for this technology. Medicare coverage is in place, and major commercial payers have increasingly extended coverage as clinical evidence has grown.
What to Do With a Positive Result
When EyeArt detects referable retinopathy, the system generates a recommendation for ophthalmology referral. The primary care provider reviews this recommendation and initiates the referral process. Critically, the AI result provides actionable clinical information that helps prioritize which patients need to be seen urgently versus those who can be scheduled routinely.
Impact on Patient Outcomes
Published data show that patients identified through autonomous AI screening initiate treatment an average of four months earlier than those identified through traditional referral pathways. Earlier treatment means better visual outcomes — and fewer patients progressing to vision-threatening disease.