Wallace Monument helps show sight problems associated with diabetes
An image of the Wallace Monument has been used to show the effects of the condition diabetic retinopathy as part of a new campaign promoting vital eye screening for people with diabetes.
`How DoYou See Scotland?’sees Diabetes Scotland and RNIB Scotland join forces to stress the importance of testing.
According to latest figures from the Scottish Diabetes Survey 2016, over 2,200 of the 16,503 people who are eligible for diabetic retinopathy screening in the Forth Valley area do not have any record for the previous 15 months.
Diabetic retinopathy is a potential complication of diabetes and the leading cause of preventable sight loss in working age adults. The campaign aims to raise awareness, with the charities releasing a series of photographic images of iconic Scottish landmarks obscured by the effects of retinopathy, including the Wallace Monument.
Actor Brian Cox, star of films such as the Bourne series, X-Men 2 and this summer’s Churchill, has narrated a 90-second film which will be shown in Scottish cinemas during National Eye Health Week.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when the eye’s tiny blood vessels start to either leak or become blocked. This can lead to either loss of central vision or, at worst, total blindness.
Jane-Claire Judson, national director of Diabetes Scotland, said: “It is very concerning that over 2,200 people with diabetes across the Forth Valley area do not have a record of attending a retinopathy screening appointment in the last 15 months. Screening is vital to pick up early warning signs of damage to the eye so that people can get the treatment needed to prevent permanent damage.
“We need to understand why people are not attending their screening appointments and what can be done to remove these barriers. We hope the`How Do You See Scotland?’campaign will raise awareness of the issue and encourage more people to attend this essential diabetes healthcare service.”
More information at www. diabetes.org.uk/SeeScotland.