People with insu PeoPeople with insulin-dependent or non-insulin dependent diabetes face the risk of diabetes involving the retina and of visual loss.

Thirty years ago blindness as a result of lifetime diabetes was not uncommon. Fortunately there have been major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which in most cases should prevent any serious loss of vision.

Diabetes affects the small vessels of the retina or film of the eye, and this is believed to be due to the lack of oxygen-carrying capacity to the retina. As a result, there may be fluid leakage in the retina or even the development of new blood vessels, both of which can reduce vision.

Early diagnosis of the disease, usually in the hands of general practitioners and optometrists, and the referral of these patients for further investigation and possible laser treatment to ophthalmologists, should lead to the prevention of serious vision loss.

myDr, 2000. Reproduced with kind permission from the Prevent Blindness Foundation.