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05/09/2007
Sight Screening Programme Launched For Diabetics
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has officially launched the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme (DRSP) for Northern Ireland.
An £800,000 investment will provide a comprehensive screening programme available to all GPs to enable eligible patients with diabetes to be screened for sight threatening eye disease annually.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the UK in people of working age. It is also a major cause of blindness in older people.
Serious visual loss can be prevented by early detection and laser treatment. Speaking at the launch, Michael McGimpsey said: "With some 3% of the population of Northern Ireland affected by diabetes, early detection of retinopathy enables treatment which can prevent serious visual loss and blindness. The screening programme, in which my department will be investing over £800,000 each year, will provide comprehensive screening across Northern Ireland for detection of eye disease and treatment."
The Minister added: "A key aspect of the programme is that the screening, provided in co-operation with GPs, will be offered to people at local and community-based facilities."
Following the full implementation of the screening programme in March 2008, it is intended that over 55,000 people in Northern Ireland who are known to have diabetes will be offered screening every year.
A painless procedure, the screening, which involves taking a digital photograph of the back of each eye, takes about 15 minutes.
(SB/SP)
An £800,000 investment will provide a comprehensive screening programme available to all GPs to enable eligible patients with diabetes to be screened for sight threatening eye disease annually.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in the UK in people of working age. It is also a major cause of blindness in older people.
Serious visual loss can be prevented by early detection and laser treatment. Speaking at the launch, Michael McGimpsey said: "With some 3% of the population of Northern Ireland affected by diabetes, early detection of retinopathy enables treatment which can prevent serious visual loss and blindness. The screening programme, in which my department will be investing over £800,000 each year, will provide comprehensive screening across Northern Ireland for detection of eye disease and treatment."
The Minister added: "A key aspect of the programme is that the screening, provided in co-operation with GPs, will be offered to people at local and community-based facilities."
Following the full implementation of the screening programme in March 2008, it is intended that over 55,000 people in Northern Ireland who are known to have diabetes will be offered screening every year.
A painless procedure, the screening, which involves taking a digital photograph of the back of each eye, takes about 15 minutes.
(SB/SP)
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