Chef Andrew Rudd and broadcaster Ronan Collins help lauch Eye am What I Eat, a new eye health campaign to raise awareness of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), a form of diabetic retinopathy that can cause blindness. A common complication of diabetes, symptoms include blurred vision and black spots that appear to float in the eye.
Dr Mark Cahill, spokesman for the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and retinal specialist at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, said: “If diabetic retinopathy is not detected in the early stages, it can lead to vision impairment and even vision loss. Eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are hugely important but it is also essential for anyone with diabetes to have their eyes screened annually in order to detect the signs of diabetic retinopathy as early as possible.” The National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, ‘Diabetic RetinaScreen’, offers free, regular diabetic retinopathy screening to all people with diabetes, aged 12 and older.
The campaign, by Diabetes Ireland, NCBI, Fighting Blindness, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, the Association of Optometrists Ireland, Novartis and Andrew Rudd, includes a recipe competition, at eyeamwhatIeat.ie. diabetes.ieEye am What I Eat is a new eye health campaign by to raise awareness of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), a form of diabetic retinopathy that can cause blindness. It is a common complication of diabetes, and symptoms can include blurred vision and black spots that appear to float in the eye.
Dr Mark Cahill, spokesman for the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and retinal specialist at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, says regular screening is vital because the condition is treatable if caught early. “If diabetic retinopathy is not detected in the early stages it can lead to vision impairment and even vision loss. Eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are hugely important but it is also essential for anyone with diabetes to have their eyes screened annually in order to detect the signs of diabetic retinopathy as early as possible.” The National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, ‘Diabetic RetinaScreen’ offers free, regular diabetic retinopathy screening to all people with diabetes, aged 12 and older.
The campaign, by Diabetes Ireland, NCBI, Fighting Blindness, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO), the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI), Novartis, and chef Andrew Rudd, includes a recipe competition, at eyeamwhatIeat.ie. See diabetes.ie.