The latest Department of Health figures show that over a quarter of people with Diabetes, equating to more than half a million people in England, are still not receiving retinal screening.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication for diabetics and can be screened for via retinal photography using a fundus camera. If identified early enough, blindness can be prevented in 90 per cent of cases. Specsavers Corporate Eyecare is fighting to ensure that everyone with diabetes is given the opportunity to be screened. The company has just finished installing six million pound’s worth of fundus cameras in the majority of its stores across the UK and is working in partnership with 1st Retinal Screen to assist Primary Care Trusts in improving the current situation.

Charity group Diabetes UK believes that PCTs need to ensure that every person aged 12 or over on the GPs' diabetes register is invited for screening and that a follow-up process should take place for patients who have not attended. This is a large part of the work undertaken by 1st Retinal Screen in its work with Specsavers.

Jim Lythgow, director of strategic alliances for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare says, “Specsavers has for some time been working with PCTs to help them meet their targets for retinal screening. In partnership with 1st Retinal Screen, we are aiding them with both the administration and the practical side of the screening. Our aim is to help PCTs beat their targets by offering retinal screening to 100% of people with diabetes aged 12 and over who are registered with a GP.”