Bringing Advanced Eye Care to Rural California Through Telemedicine

Rural communities in California have historically faced significant barriers to accessing specialized eye care. VisionScan's telemedicine platform, launched in early 2025, is transforming this landscape.

The Access Gap

Over 40% of rural Californians live more than 50 miles from the nearest retinal specialist. This geographic barrier often means delayed diagnosis and treatment of sight-threatening conditions.

How the Platform Works

Primary care clinics and pharmacies in rural areas can now offer VisionScan retinal imaging. Images are captured by trained technicians and analyzed by AI within minutes. Specialists review flagged cases remotely, providing consultations via secure video conferencing.

Success in the Central Valley

A pilot program in Fresno County screened 3,400 patients in six months, identifying 187 cases requiring urgent intervention. "Without this technology, most of these patients wouldn't have sought care until they experienced vision loss," explains program coordinator Rosa Martinez.

Cultural Competency and Language Access

The VisionScan platform offers interfaces and educational materials in Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and other languages common in rural California communities. Interpretation services are integrated into telemedicine consultations.

Economic Impact

Patients save an average of $420 in travel costs and 6 hours of time per visit. For farming communities where time away from work has significant economic implications, this accessibility is transformative.

Expanding Reach

VisionScan has partnered with 45 rural health clinics across California, with plans to expand to 100 locations by year-end. The goal: no Californian should lack access to world-class retinal care.