Cindy Cai, M.D., specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases and is the inaugural Jonathan and Marcia Javitt Rising Professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute. She sees patients at Wilmer’s East Baltimore and Green Spring Station locations.

Can you describe your research interests?

I study how the social aspects of one’s life — for example, where a person lives and works — affect outcomes in diabetic eye disease. I hope to incorporate these social determinants of health as part of medical decision-making to deliver more personalized care.

What is an important social determinant and how does it affect diabetic eye disease?

Access to health care, including having insurance coverage or transportation to get to the doctor, is an important social determinant that greatly affects a person’s ability to take care of their diabetic eye disease. We are finding that other social determinants, such as stable housing, can also affect diabetic eye care.

What is one action a patient can take to prevent diabetic eye disease?

Getting the eyes checked regularly with an eye care professional is the single most important thing that a patient can do to prevent vision loss from diabetic eye disease.

What is an effective action a patient can take to manage their diabetic eye disease and prevent it from progressing?

Other than getting regular eye check-ups, keeping blood sugar under control is another important aspect of preventing diabetic eye disease from progressing.