Regular Eye Checks Essential for Early Detection of Sight Threatening Diabetic Eye Disease

Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure Increase Risk of Diabetic Eye Complication

Vision Loss Leading Cause of Concern for Diabetes Patients

Ahead of World Diabetes Day (Thursday 14 November), the training and professional body for eye doctors in Ireland is reminding those who suffer from diabetes of the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams in order to detect early symptoms of eye disease and enable effective treatment. Diabetes related eye disease is the leading cause of vision loss in a dults of working age (20-65) in industrialised countries and is a leading cause of new blindness among adults in Ireland.

Speaking on behalf of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO), Eye Surgeon Mr David Keegan said, "People who have diabetes are at greater risk of developing sight threatening complications associated with having the condition.
Diabetic retinopathy is a deterioration of the blood vesselsn that nourish the retina and is the most common complication of diabetes, which left undetected and treated, can lead to sight loss."

Mr Keegan explained, "The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases with the length of time a person has had diabetes; 60 per cent of people with diabetes more than 15 years will have some blood vessel damage in their eyes however only a small percentage of those people have serious vision problems. Pregnancy and high blood pressure may worsen the condition in diabetic patients."
Over 18,000 people in Ireland are estimated to have diabetic retinopathy

Recent research conducted by Diabetes Ireland [iii] showed the risk to eye health is the health complication that people with diabetes are most concerned about (42 per cent) followed by heart
conditions (26 per cent) and kidney damage (26 per cent).
Despite this concern, however, over a quarter of people with diabetes questioned in the survey were not following medical guidelines of having an annual full eye examination.

Acknowledging World Diabetes Day, the ICO wish to highlight the significance early diagnosis and treatment can have on a positive outcome for a patient in terms of slowing progression of the disease and even restoring lost vision.
Speaking in relation to the importance of eye examinations, Mr. Keegan said;

"People who have diabetic retinopathy often don’t notice change in their vision in the diseases early stages, but as it progresses, the disease usually causes vision loss that in many cases cannot be reversed.
A regular examination by an eye doctor will enable early diagnosis and mean the treatment options to prevent sight loss or stabilise vision will be possible."

Mr Keegan continued, "The good news is that diabetic retinopathy is a manageable and treatable condition. There have been incredible developments in terms of new treatments for patients with diabetic eye disease in recent years and our key message really is that it is crucial to be diligent about annual eye health checks if you are diabetic in order to detect any problems and maximise treatment effectiveness.”

The ICO stated that it welcomes the roll out of the National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme in
2013, aimed at preventing sight loss for those with the condition. The screening programme aims to reach, over time, an estimated growing population of 190,000 patients aged 12 and older with
diabetes in Ireland in need of screening for potential further eye complications.

Mr Keegan, who is the ICO representative on the National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, advises that “the best protection against the progression of diabeticretinopathy is good diabetic
control of blood sugar and blood pressure, awareness of the risks of developing sight disturbances and participating in the national Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme or having eye
examinations by an eye doctor.
If left untreated, a person with diabetic retinopathy could lose their sight altogether or find they develop other eye complications including cataracts or glaucoma.”

Advice from the ICO on how to look after your vision if you are diabetic:

If you are diabetic, the good news is that you can preserve your vision and reduce your chances of developing eye disease. People with diabetes should take the following measures to protect their eye health;

Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam by your eye doctor at least once a year-regularly monitoring your eyes’ health allows your ophthalmologist to begin treatment as soon as possible if
signs of disease do appear.

Control your blood sugar - when your blood sugar is too high, it can affect the shape of youreye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilises. Highblood sugar can alsodamage the blood vessels in your eyes. Maintaining good control of your bloodsugar helps prevent these problems.·
Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam by your eye doctor at least once a year-regularly monitoring your eyes’ health allows your ophthalmologist to begin treatment as soon as possible if signs of disease do appear.
Control your blood sugar - when your blood sugar is too high, it can affect the shape of youreye’s lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilises. Highblood sugar can alsodamage the blood vessels in your eyes. Maintaining good control of your bloodsugar helps prevent these problems.·
Give up Smoking! If you smoke, your risk for diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes
Exercise Regular exercise can help your eyes stay as healthy as possible while helping tocontrol your diabetes.

10^th October 2013

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