KeepSight to enhance frequency of care for patients with diabetes

As a founding optometry partner of the KeepSight program, Specsavers is beginning to see several emerging trends in rates of appointment adherence for our patients.  

Within our Specsavers practices, KeepSight reminders run alongside our own recall system for patients with diabetes. Those registered to KeepSight receive communications from both Specsavers and KeepSight, and those who aren’t registered receive only Specsavers recall messages. While our optometrists register around 90% of patients with diabetes to the program, there is a small cohort of patients who do not consent to being registered with KeepSight. This gives us a unique opportunity to compare patient behaviour and understand the impact of KeepSight on ensuring patients with diabetes are accessing eyecare regularly. 

Our data shows that patients registered on the KeepSight program are returning for eye care within the recommended timeframes at a rate that is 20% higher than patients with diabetes not registered on the program. It appears KeepSight participation strengthens adherence to recall messages, which is encouraging patients back to see their initial optometrist within their suggested recall period, and more frequently than they otherwise would have. 

Increasing rate of participation across the industry 

Since it was established in December 2018, KeepSight has seen a steady increase in participant registrations each year as more optometry industry partners embrace the program.  

Specsavers’ Australian network of optometrists register approximately 2,500 new patients with diabetes and 4,800 follow‑up appointments to the program every week, in addition to those referred to KeepSight by other providers. The program has been integrated with the widely used patient management system, Optomate, allowing a more streamlined referral process, and has continuing support from Optometry Australia. A culmination of these factors is helping to drive the rise in patient referral rates to KeepSight, with participant numbers now over 430,000[1]. This means the program is reaching 28% of the estimated 1.5 million Australians[2] living with diabetes.

 KeepSight is delivered by Diabetes Australia, with the support of the Australian Government, Specsavers, Vision 2020 Australia, Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), Bayer, Novartis, Mylan, Luxottica Retail ANZ and Optometry Australia.  

To find out more about KeepSight visit www.keepsight.org.au