Diabetes is the #1 cause of blindness among working-age adults. Anyone with diabetes should be screened at least once a year to detect early changes and prevent vision loss. Most people have no visual symptoms until it is too late.
About Us
Our goal is to detect diabetic retinal disease in the early stages in order to prevent irreversible vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. We do this by coordinating with community health centers, primary care clinics, hospitals, and insurers throughout California to screen patients during their regular visits to their primary care provider.
Meet Our Team
Click on a plus sign (+) to learn more about our Digital Health Team.
Dr. Green took over the directorship of UC Berkeley Digital Health in 2010, and has grown the program significantly over that time, thanks to an outstanding team at UC Berkeley and outstanding staff at our partner clinics. Originally from Davis, CA, Dr. Green had many opportunities to travel and live in different places in his youth. He brings these experiences to his work with Digital Health, promoting cultural sensitivity and principles of social equality and welfare. Dr. Green also teaches at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, seeing patients with students to provide outstanding clinical eye care to patients from all over the Bay Area.
Dr. Sherstinsky is the Southern California Clinic Outreach Specialist for Digital Health from his base in Los Angeles. He assists all of our California partner clinics with a wide range of support, including on-site staff training and in-services; technical assistance; photographer certification and much more. As an Assistant Clinical Professor at UC Berkeley, he teaches an Evidence-Based Clinical Practice course for 4th-year Optometry students. Mark has worked with Digital Health since 2012, when he returned to his alma mater UC Berkeley School of Optometry from New York City, after 12 years of teaching, research and clinical work at SUNY Optometry.
Connie is Assistant Director of the UC Berkeley Digital Health team and has been a team member since 2016. She works with our partner clinics to process business contracts, health plans to facilitate the insurance billing program and with UC Berkeley Optometry communications for our marketing plan. Her problem solving and organizational skills from twenty plus years in the private sector contribute to our continuing growth and success.
Graciela has joined the team as our Digital Health Coordinator bringing four years experience working at the UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science Eye Center. As our Coordinator, Graciela provides administrative clerical support to our healthcare sites, manages our monthly invoicing and receiving, photographer support for EyePACS, consultant reads and insurance audits.
Our Services
Digital retinal imaging is an established method of screening for diabetic retinopathy. At your primary care clinic, staff capture high-quality photos of each eye. These photos are then transmitted via the internet to UC Berkeley credentialed eyecare providers. Photos are evaluated for diabetic eye disease and the results are sent to your primary care doctor. If further evaluation is needed, you will be referred to a local eye care provider.
Most patients with diabetes should be screened once a year. Follow-ups may be needed.
No. Retinal screening is important for preventing blindness due to diabetes, but cannot detect many other eye diseases. Having annual exams with an eye care professional is essential to maintaining good vision and eye health.
Once you have symptoms it is often too late! Detection and treatment before symptoms appear is important to avoid permanent damage to your vision.
Diabetic retinopathy screenings are often covered by insurance or subsidized by your clinic. Contact your insurer or ask clinic staff for more information.
No. The photos we take are the same as any other digital camera, including the one on your phone.
If your retinal photography is done without dilating drops, you will be able to drive. If your eyes are dilated, you may experience blurriness or sensitivity to light for a short time. The clinic will give you temporary sunglasses.
Clinic Locations
Click on the map below to see the location of all of our clinic partners.
Did You Know?
About 90% of vision loss can be prevented with early detection and treatment.
Sight threatening diabetic retinopathy typically has no symptoms until it permanently damages your vision.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina (the tissue at the back of the eye that provides good vision).
Vision that is lost because of diabetes often cannot be restored, even with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.
Diabetic Retinopathy Facts
Once you have symptoms it is often too late! Detection and treatment before symptoms appear is important to avoid permanent damage to your vision. About 90% of vision loss can be prevented with timely treatment.
1 out of 12 diabetics have potentially blinding retinal damage.*
*Source: Community Clinic data in EyePACS
Contact Us
Digital Health Clinic Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science 200 Minor Addition UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA 94720
