TAMPA – Network Eye has become the nation’s first-ever sub-specialty eye clinic located inside a major retailer with the opening of a clinic inside a Tampa CVS pharmacy, a pilot project for a new model of improving access to health care and addressing equity issues. 

The clinic offers both testing and physician-provided treatment and serves patients at risk for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, two leading causes of blindness in the U.S.  Nearly half of the 34 million Americans with diabetes either do not get their recommended diabetes eye tests or face significant issues accessing treatment; one in four people with diabetes risk of losing their vision.

“This is a major step forward in providing greater access to healthcare in a convenient, retail environment where patients are already engaged in meaningful, important discussions about their health,” said Dr. Lindsay Smithen, co-founder and co-chief medical officer of Network Eye. “Offering specialty retina care in a major retailer will close critical care gaps at a lower cost to consumers. Increasing access, particularly in underserved communities, will ensure more people get screened, diagnosed, and ultimately prevent people from losing their eyesight.”

Network Eye’s model focuses on educating patients with the use of behavioral science to increase patient uptake and uses an FDA-approved, AI-based screening technology, the company said. It delivers diagnostic results in less than five minutes and patients have access to board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians at Network Eye’s clinics.

“Our founding retina specialists collaborated with their colleagues across the country, enabling us to create a unique, nationwide network of retina doctors in 20 U.S. cities,” said Steven Wisch, co-founder and executive chairman.  “These doctors will augment their practices to serve a large, growing market, focusing on underserved communities to promote health equity. “

Network Eye was founded by entrepreneurs Jeremy Kirsch, Steven Wisch, and physician retina specialists Drs. David Eichenbaum and Lindsay Smithen in 2019. After self-funding, the company completed a capital raise in October 2021.