Eye screening could save sight

People with diabetes are being encouraged to have a simple test to save their eyesight from a damaging condition called diabetic retinopathy.

A total of 9,168 people in Heywood, Middleton amp; Rochdale (4.2% of total population) have diabetes and are at risk of sight loss without regular screening - and the figure is growing by seven per cent year on year.

Diabetic retinopathy – a disease of the retina - can be treated effectively if detected early on. Now a Greater Manchester-wide Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service, the largest in the UK, is being launched to encourage those diagnoses with diabetes to have the test.

Gail Lett, Service Development and Commissioning Lead for Long Term Conditions at HMR  PCT, said: “Despite an explosion in the number of people diagnosed with the disease, one in three are not aware it can lead to sight loss. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness in the UK – and it doesn’t need to be.

“Screening saves sight but too many people are ignoring it because they think they don’t have an eye problem. Once retinopathy begins to cause noticeable symptoms, it can be much harder to deal with.”

The Greater Manchester service has been launched to make sure health authorities and charities are working together to tackle the issue. Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw in Coronation Street and is diabetic, is launching the campaign on Friday 7th December (details below)

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT already has a well established screening service which launched in August 2006 and is being incorporated into the network.

People can be screened by a dedicated service provided by Pennine Acute Hospital Trust that is based at Birch Hill Hospital. People are screened at a range of community based centres using four mobile screening units.

The teams move around the borough and are currently work from the Rochdale Walk-in Centre, Longford Street Practice in Heywood and the Masonic Lodge in Middleton.