Diabetes is the worlds fastest growing disease. It affects the body's ability to use and store sugar. The disease can damage your eyes and eventually lead to blindness. We can play an important role in diagnosing diabetes, by looking for tell-tale signs and symptoms of diabetes during eye examinations and play a pivitol role in providing ongoing eye health care to those diagnosed with diabetes by working with GPs and other health care professionals to provide ongoing management of eye disease.

The incidence of diabetes is growing and is predicted to affect more than 1.6 million Australians by 2010. It is currently estimated that more than 500, 000 Australians are unaware that they have diabetes.

Undetected or poorly managed diabetes can result in focusing problems, fluctuating vision, double vision, and dry eyes. Once diabetes is stabilised and blood sugar levels managed, the patient's vision normally recovers over a number of weeks.

Cataracts and a condition known as diabetic retinopathy are also associated with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is particularly serious and risk of diabetic retinopathy increases the longer you have diabetes. Regular eye examinations can detect early signs of retinopathy and effective management of blood sugar levels by the patient will help prevent it.