KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, is encouraging people with diabetes to get screened for eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, to prevent vision loss.

The minister made the appeal during the launch of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme at the Greater Portmore Health Centre in St Catherine yesterday (November 28).

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness, resulting from damage of the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissues at the back of the eye. 

Dr Tufton emphasised that annual testing for the condition is key, as the earlier the disease is detected, and with better control of diabetes and treatment of the eyes, vision loss can be prevented.

He said that approximately 30 per cent of people with diabetes are likely to have some level of diabetic retinopathy.

“This is estimated to be about 18,000 Jamaicans [with diabetes] and these persons are likely to require laser therapy to prevent significant loss of sight,” he said.

 Dr Tufton acknowledged that not enough screening and treatment sites for diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases are available in the public sector.

He welcomed the launch of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening programme, in St Catherine, which he said is going to fill a void.

Screening for the disease is currently being provided at the Hagley Park Health Centre in Kingston, and Isaac Barrant Centre of Excellence in St Thomas, as part of a pilot project.