Diabetes occurs when the body no longer produce sufficient quantities of insulin, or when the insulin that is produced has a reduced effect. Insulin is used by the body to regulate the way food is processed. People who have diabetes can no longer process sugar and other carbohydrates as efficiently as they did before. Diabetes is on the increase in the UK, with almost one person in 25 suffering from the condition.

Diabetes can affect eye sight in a number of different ways. The most serious eye condition associated with diabetes affects the network of tiny blood vessels to the retina at the back of the eye – a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

Not everyone who has diabetes develops an eye complication and for those that do, many people have a very mild form of retinopathy, which may never cause vision loss. It is, however, very important that people with diabetes attend regular eye-screening appointments so that the health of the eye can be monitored and action taken as the earliest opportunity before significant sight loss occurs.