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Diabetes Screening
“About one person in fifty in the UK is affected by Diabetes Mellitus or “sugar diabetes”. This means that the body cannot cope normally with sugar and other carbohydrates in the diet.” – Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 1998

Diabetes is currently the leading cause of sight loss in the United Kingdom between the ages of 20 and 65 years (Kanski 1999) so regular eye examinations are extremely important.

It is well-known that if you have diabetes you are more likely to have eye problems. Most of these problems can be prevented with careful eye care.

Wolverhampton has a well-established diabetes retinal screening scheme, under which over 5000 patients a year are screened. Accredited optometrists examine patients with dilated pupils using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy techniques.

Diabetes Screening

All of the optometrists at Flint and Partners are accredited for Wolverhampton diabetes screening and appointments are available at any practice.

Blurring of vision is a common symptom, especially when your Diabetes is first becoming controlled and may last a few days or even weeks. This occurs when the lens inside your eyes swells as it absorbs by-products of the sugars in your blood. This resolves without treatment as the diabetes becomes controlled. Diabetic patients are more prone to developing CATARACTS, but these can usually be removed as a day-case at an Ophthalmic hospital.

Diabetic Retinopathy
The most serious diabetic eye condition is Diabetic Retinopathy. Early, or “Background” Retinopathy is very common in those who have had Diabetes for many years and your Optometrist may detect abnormalities on examination, but there is no threat to your sight.
Diabetes Screening

The two types of sight threatening retinopathy are:

Maculopathy
Maculopathy is a condition when the blood vessels in the centre of the retina start to leak, this causes your central vision to gradually worsen, the extent of which varies from person to person and can cause difficulty with reading and recognizing faces. Peripheral (side) vision is not affected through Maculopathy.
Proliferative retinopathy
Proliferative retinopathy arises when the retinal blood vessels become blocked. The eye tries to repair itself by growing new blood vessels, but unfortunately these are very weak and bleed easily and can cause scar tissue formation. If the scar tissue contracts, it can pull the retina out of position and cause a Retinal Detachment.

This is a rarer condition than background retinopathy and is more common in those who have been Insulin dependent for a long time. If untreated, this type of retinopathy can lead to total loss of vision. Most sight-threatening diabetic complications can be prevented with treatment – laser – if caught early enough. Laser treatment seals up leaking vessels and can cause new blood vessels to disappear, but it is important to realize laser aims to preserve the existing sight, not to improve it.

Please feel free to discuss OCT with your Optometrist on your next visit
We offer private and NHS Eye Examinations
We offer private and NHS Eye Examinations, each tailored to the individual patient.

Using a combination of traditional methods and the very latest equipment, we aim to give you the best possible vision for all your requirements and ensure the health of your eyes.

Our optometrists each have only a small number of appointments per day, ensuring that every patient is given plenty of time and that all assessments can be done by the optometrist, not by unqualified staff.

Flint & Partners aim to put you, the patient, first - Call us on: 01902 422 096

We strive to offer you the best service, range of frames and lenses, technical know how and expertise to ensure your experience with us exceeds your expectations. As an industry award winning practice, you are in good hands with Flint and Partners. You can get in contact with us by either: phone, email or visiting one of our four practice locations.