Spotlight on diabetes

The World Health Organisation’s report on vision cited diabetes as a leading cause of visual impairment globally. Within the UK, while the Diabetes Retinopathy Screening Programme is accountable to offer 95% of people with diabetes a digital retinal screening appointment within three months of their diagnosis, the actual uptake and subsequent access to timely treatment remains a significant challenge. This is especially of concern to risk groups when one remembers the ongoing increase in the rates of obesity and type II diabetes in ever younger people.

With retinopathy present in 10 to 20% of people with newly diagnosed type II diabetes, optometrists and eye care services are pivotal to the early detection and referral of diabetes.