Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) is partnering with Diabetes Australia’s KeepSight to expand its Eye Connect service to include Australians living with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema.
A MDFA media release said the move was in response to the growing need for support among people with diabetes-related eye conditions.
Of the 1.5 million people in Australia diagnosed with diabetes, between 25% to 35% of people have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
MDFA said that an estimated 91,000 of those were living with diabetic macular oedema, a complication of diabetic retinopathy. These conditions are the leading cause of preventable blindness among working-age Australians.
MDFA CEO Dr Kathy Chapman said the partnership brought together eye health and diabetes expertise to make Eye Connect Australia’s first national service dedicated to providing tailored information, practical advice, and emotional support for people affected by both age-related macular degeneration and diabetes-related eye conditions.
“The service complements clinical care by reinforcing key information, supporting self-management, and addressing people’s needs between appointments,” Dr Chapman said.
Eye Connect offered tailored support for people living with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema, whether they had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, including:
- Tailored education on diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema.
- Practical lifestyle and vision adaptation advice.
- Emotional connection via peer support and regular check-ins.
- Multi-channel access (phone, SMS, email, print).
Diabetes Australia group CEO Ms Justine Cain said working with MDFA to develop the service was an important next step for KeepSight, the national diabetes eye check reminder program managed by Diabetes Australia.
“KeepSight now plays a critical role in preventing diabetes-related vision loss in Australia with more than 200,000 eye check reminders sent each year. More than 600,000 people living with diabetes are registered to receive reminders when they are due for diabetes eye checks.
“Importantly, KeepSight also has a role to play in supporting those people whose vision loss is more progressed and who require personalised support.
“Living with diabetes is challenging enough, having to also navigate vision loss creates even more challenges. We are so pleased we can now provide people with practical advice and emotional support specific to their circumstances.”
MDFA and Diabetes Australia conducted research with people living with diabetes-related eye conditions to better understand their lived experiences.
The media release said participants shared powerful reflections on their experiences, with some stressing it was the loss of independence, confidence and sometimes hope that affected people most strongly.
The research indicated that people needed more than just treatment – but support that saw the whole person, not just the condition. Beyond the research, insights were also sought from individuals living with diabetes-related eye conditions to better understand their personal journeys.
MDFA has launched a new online Eye Connect Check self-assessment tool, helping patients understand how the service can support them on their journey with AMD or a diabetes-related eye condition: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/Eye-Connect-Check.
