Islanders with diabetes are encouraged to apply for free retinal screenings to avoid going blind.
Diabetic Retinopathy is not commonly looked for in regular eye tests at the opticians and the special screenings look for the condition specifically.
The chronic disease affects the vessels in the body which supply the eyes with blood, resulting in sight loss.
It is treatable if caught early, and the screenings allow medical professionals to see areas of the back of the eye which usually go unnoticed.
Around 5% of Jersey's islanders have diabetes, and those who are over the age of 12 are offered free screenings annually.
The island's new clinical lead for the Jersey Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, Mr Anish Shah, says the disease can often have no symptoms:
"We would definitely encourage all patients who are diabetic or who think they might have diabetes to register with the retinal screening service for screening, which is typically annual but sometimes if patients have some changes, the screening programme has further clinics which are set up to monitor that more frequently than annually if necessary."
A government leaflet says islanders can reduce their risk of developing the condition through:
- Controlling blood glucose,
- Attending diabetic eye screening appointments,
- Getting advice from GPs or Opticians if there are concerns over eye health,
- And by taking medication as prescribed.
"Patients are encouraged to contact retinalscreening@health.gov.je or call 01534 444590 to book their screening, and further information is available via Jersey diabetic retinal screening (gov.je)"
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