Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in the UK.
People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing eye problems. If left untreated, this can lead to poor vision and blindness. There will be often be no signs or symptoms of problems. In fact, changes in vision may be so gradual that a person may not notice it for some time.
The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases with the length of time you have had diabetes. The risk is also increased when blood glucose levels are not well controlled over time. Good blood glucose levels and blood pressure, and regular comprehensive eye examinations can greatly reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy but it does not eliminate it.
Diabetic Retinopathy can occur regardless of the type of diabetes you have, your age, or even the control you have over your blood-glucose levels. It’s best to have regular eye examinations so that changes can be detected and treated early. The good news is that most vision loss from diabetes can be prevented with regular eye checks and early treatment. The earlier the treatment, the better the result.
People who have diabetes should have their eyes checked from when diabetes is first diagnosed, and then regularly checked with our state of the art equipment.
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/diabetes-week
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