People with diabetes are being reminded of the importance of having regular eye exams in order to detect the early symptoms of diabetes-related eye disease.

Known as diabetic retinopathy, this is currently the leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 20-65 in industrialised countries. It is also a major cause of new cases of blindness among adults in Ireland and at least 18,000 people here are thought to be affected.

According to Mr David Keegan, an eye surgeon at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, those with diabetes have an increased risk of developing ‘sight-threatening complications'.

"Diabetic retinopathy is a deterioration of the blood vessels that nourish the retina and is the most common complication of diabetes, which if left undetected and untreated, can lead to sight loss," he explained.

Mr Keegan was speaking on behalf of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) ahead of World Diabetes Day (November 14).

He noted the risk of developing this serious eye disease increases in line with the length of time a person has had diabetes.

"Some 60% 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," he said.

He highlighted the fact that people with diabetic neuropathy often do not notice a change in their vision during the early stages of the disease. However as the condition progresses, vision loss can occur and in many cases, this ‘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. Diabetic retinopathy is a manageable and treatable condition. There have been incredible developments in terms of new treatments 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," Mr Keegan commented.

He added that if left untreated, a person with this eye disease ‘could lose their sight altogether or find they develop other eye complications including cataracts or glaucoma'.

Previous research by Diabetes Ireland found that the risk of vision loss is the health complication that people with diabetes are most concerned with. However despite this, at least one in four people with diabetes were failing to have their eyes checked annually.

The ICO advises people with diabetes to:
-Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam by their eye doctor at least once a year
-Control their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels
-Give up smoking
-Exercise regularly.

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