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Research - Diabetic eye screening

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Vehicle containing a mobile diabetes eye screening unit.Nearly one person in twenty five in the UK is affected by diabetes mellitus, a condition which can cause complications in different parts of the body including the eye.

In the UK 1.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and it is estimated that 1 million have the condition without being aware of it.

The last 30 years has seen a 3-fold increase in the number of cases of childhood diabetes.

The most serious eye condition associated with diabetes involves the retina and, more specifically, the network of blood vessels lying within it - this condition is called diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness and visually disability in the working population of the western world.

Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is vital and experts advise people to have an eye examination by a recognised diabetic retinopathy screening programme every year and not to wait until vision has deteriorated - most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be managed by laser treatment if it is given early enough

The work that St Paul's has done over the years has provided a much better understanding of diabetes and visual problems both in our local community and the rest of the UK. Indeed the pioneering work in Liverpool during the 1990s has formed the basis of the introduction of screening and early detection of diabetic eye diseases throughout the UK. A National Screening Programme is due to start across the UK in 2006 using the models of provision St Paul's has developed.

Every year around 10,000 people who suffer from diabetes in Liverpool are invited to attend one of the mobile screening units to have pictures taken of their eyes by a team of specialist staff from St Paul's Mobile Eye Screening Service .

Every GP in Liverpool have signed up to our screening programme. In this way treatment of this blinding condition can be started earlier and vision will be better preserved.

With the Appeal's support, St Paul's Eye Unit is launching a significant expansion of the screening programme which will see the number of people invited to attend the mobile screening units increased to 15,000 per year. This increase will be achieved by increasing the number of Mobile Screening Units and ophthalmic specialists that staff them.

The aim of the screening expansion is to meet national targets of 80% of people with diabetes being offered screening by March 2006 and 100% of those affected by 2007. The introduction of digital cameras will produce results much quicker then the traditional way which first involved processing the camera's film. Staff at St Paul's and the University are also developing computer programmes which will be able to automatically read the image of the eye and report any abnormalities.

Dr Deborah Broadbent, is eye specialist at St Paul's Eye Unit:

"Liverpool has led the way in diagnosing and treating those who have diabetes and may suffer eye problems. The new expansion in our services will enable us to see more people and therefore reduce the number of people whose sight is affected by diabetes."

"Since the introduction of lasers as a treatment it has been relatively easy to treat diabetic conditions, which in the past would have left the person blind. Although very effective it is important to remember that laser treatment can only preserve the sight you have - not make it better."

Although your vision may be good, changes can be taking place in your retina that requires treatment. Because most sight loss due to diabetes is preventable, remember:

  • early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is vital
  • have an eye examination every year
  • do not wait until your vision has deteriorated to have an eye test
  • the importance of early treatment of diabetic retinopathy cannot be stressed enough
  • eye examinations are free for people with diabetes

With your help, our continuing efforts in training and clinical trials will ensure that St Paul's Eye Unit and the University of Liverpool continue to develop better methods of detection and treatment of eye diseases in people with diabetes.

In November 2005, St Paul's organised an International Diabetes Conference.

International Diabetes Conference - November 2005

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