The Australian government’s decision to develop a national diabetes eye screening programme is a major step in the fight against diabetes-related vision loss and blindness, according to diabetes and eye health groups.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt announced an initial $1 million for year one to start development of the Preserve Sight programme, which will include a national electronic eye health record and ensure people registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme get regular reminders to have their eyes checked. Specsavers Australia is matching the government’s contribution, pledging $1 million a year for five years, with more industry funding expected to follow.
Of the 1.7 million Australians who currently have diabetes, 100,000 are thought to suffer from vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy, with this number expected to double by 2030. The disease, in which poor glucose control affects the tiny blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye, is largely preventable if treated early enough, but more than 600,000 Australians with diabetes are currently not having the recommended eye checks for early detection and Diabetes Australia and Vision 2020 Australia have been jointly advocating for many years for more effective screening and follow-up.
Diabetes Australia will partner with Vision 2020 Australia, Oculo, Specsavers and others in the eye health and diabetes sectors to deliver this initiative.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists president A/Prof Mark Daniell said that with newer and more effective treatment such as intravitreal injections, the major challenge to preventing vision loss has been patients presenting too late for treatment. “The new national diabetes eye screening programme is an excellent initiative, chasing up patients who have not been screened. This initiative aligns with RANZCO’s collaborative care guidelines, which provide clear standards of care for diabetic retinopathy.”
