One of the key questions answered when Professor David Keegan, Clinical Director of the HSE’s Diabetic RetinaScreen, joined Karl Henry on The Real Health podcast is why diabetic eye screening matters for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
In a wide-ranging and accessible conversation, Prof Keegan explains what diabetic retinopathy is, why regular eye screening is an important part of diabetes care, and how Ireland’s free national eye screening programme – Diabetic RetinaScreen - is designed to protect sight, often before people have any symptoms of the disease.
Some of the main topics include:
- why diabetic retinopathy can go unnoticed: Prof Keegan explains how this diabetes-related eye disease can develop slowly and silently, which is why people may feel their eyesight is fine, even when changes and damage to the retina are already happening.
- who is most at risk: The conversation looks at how long-term diabetes, blood glucose control and blood pressure all play a role.
- the impact of late diagnosis: Prof Keegan shares what he sees in clinic when people come for care too late, and why treatment at a late stage can’t always restore full vision.
- how Diabetic RetinaScreen helps prevent sight loss: Most people who attend screening won’t have diabetic retinopathy and won’t need treatment. The programme is designed to quickly identify the smaller number of people who do and get them the right care at the right time.
- what happens at a screening appointment: From how long it takes, to the eye drops used, to capturing the photographs, the episode walks through the screening experience in a very practical, reassuring way.
- access: Prof Keegan explained that with around 160 screening locations nationwide, access to free diabetic eye screening is on average about 20 minutes from each person’s home.
- future developments: How new technology, including AI and camera advances, could shape how Ireland’s national diabetic retinal screening programme develops and improves.
Throughout the episode, the message is clear: regular eye screening is one of the most effective ways to protect sight for people living with diabetes.
Diabetic RetinaScreen offers free eye screening to people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes aged 12 and over. Prof Keegan encourages anyone living with diabetes to make sure they are on the register so they can be invited for screening: hse.ie/diabeticretinascreen.
Listen to the full episode of The Real Health podcast with Professor David Keegan.