The push, timed to coincide with National Diabetes Week, focuses on the fact that one-third of the 1.7 million Australians with diabetes has a related eye disease. The number of Australians with diabetes is predicted to increase to 2.45 million by 2030.In calling for more funding, Vision 2020 Australia’s CEO Ms Carla Northam pointed out that in spite of the ocular health risks, not enough diabetic Australians were receiving eye exams.“Systatic and coordinated screening has virtually eliminated diabetes-related blindness in other countries. It is vital that Australia does the same,” Northam said.“Ninety-eight per cent of severe vision loss from diabetes can be avoided with early detection, yet we know half of Indigenous Australians and one-quarter of non-Indigenous Australians with diabetes are not having eye examinations as often as they should.“Vision 2020 Australia is calling on the Australian Government to fund the national Diabetes Blindness Prevention Initiative, which will assist in improving coordination of service delivery, ultimately reducing the number of people who are needlessly blind.”The initiative, proposed in partnership with the Centre for Eye Research Australia, would rind diabetics to have regular eye checks, ensure more-effective information sharing and establish an evidence base on eye exam uptake.National Diabetes Week began on Sunday and runs until July 15.
IMAGE: Courtesy Facebook/Vision 2020 Australia
