As World Diabetes Day approaches on Friday, 14 November, Australians are being urged to book an eye exam because diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar. It’s also the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults.
According to Diabetes Australia, more than 1.5 million Australians are currently living with diagnosed diabetes. Alarmingly, research shows that two in three of them will develop diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease caused by damage to the small blood vessels at the back of the eye.
The silent threat
“Diabetic eye disease often has no symptoms in its early stages. By the time vision changes occur, the disease may already be advanced and irreversible," explained Luke Arundel, Chief Clinical Officer at Optometry Australia.
However, the good news is that up to 95% of severe vision loss can be prevented through early detection and timely treatment. Optometrists play a crucial role here—often being the first health professionals to identify diabetes or its complications during a routine eye exam.
“When we look into the eye, we see tiny blood vessels that tell us what’s happening throughout the body,” says Arundel. “An eye exam is not just about seeing well—it’s a vital health check that can reveal diabetes and help prevent irreversible sight loss.”
Book your eye exam - don’t wait for symptoms
Optometry Australia recommends that everyone living with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam at diagnosis, and then every one to two years thereafter.
Unfortunately, many people delay their eye checks until they notice changes in their vision but by then, the damage may already be done.
There’s also encouraging news on the treatment front.
“We now have therapies that can halt or slow diabetic eye disease very effectively. But regular eye exams remain the most powerful tool for protecting sight.”
More than just retinopathy
Diabetes not only increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy. It also increases people's susceptibility to other eye conditions, including cataracts, dry eye disease and certain types of glaucoma.
A comprehensive eye exam can detect all these issues early, before they impact daily life.
Take the first step toward healthy vision
This World Diabetes Day, take control of your eye health. Use the Good vision for life's Find an Optometrist tool to book an appointment with your local optometrist.
It’s a straightforward step that can help safeguard your vision, and your quality of life, for years to come.
