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Eye test probably saved man's life!
Mr Denyer had noticed several unusual symptoms, but it was a rapid change to his vision that prompted him to call his optometrist Alisdair Buchanan. Concerned enough to
examined Mr Denyer urgently and diagnosed suspected diabetes. The same day appointment with his GP led to hospitalisation to stabilise his blood sugars and in Mr Denyer’s words ‘probably saved my life’.
Diabetes the facts:
• By 2025 5 million people in the UK will have been diagnosed with diabetes
that they have diabetes
• Forty per cent of people with type 1 diabetes and 20 per cent with type 2 diabetes will develop sight-threatening damage to their retinal blood vessels (diabetic retinopathy) during their lifetime
• Symptoms of diabetes include blurred vision, increased thirst, frequent urination, feeling more tired than usual, losing weight without trying to, cuts and wounds take longer to heal
• Diabetes can cause a short term shift to a person’s vision but can also lead to damage to the retinal blood vessels
Fortunately for Mr Denyer,
Alisdair at Buchanan Optometrists owns one of only two Heidelberg OCT-A scanners in the UK which
retina and can pick up on diabetic retinal damage far sooner than the basic photographs of the eye that diabetics will be familiar with having once a year.
With regular scans, even tiny diabetic changes can be found early and treated before they become a problem. Alisdair explains “We have one of only two of these machines in the country, capable of
retinal blood vessels and detecting changes as small as 1/1000th of a mm. This new technology is set to revolutionise care for all diabetic patients. As Optometrists, it is a joy to be able to detect changes early and prevent sight loss, where just a year ago the same patients would
unnecessary and invasive tests and treatments. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight loss amongst working age people in the UK. Using this technology, we hope to help change that statistic. With early detection and treatment, the chances of sight loss is reduced for 9 out of 10 patients. For patients
like Mr Denyer, we can monitor his retinal health closely and treat any problems long before it threatens his vision.” Mr Denyer’s GP was full of praise for the experienced optometrist too and thanked him for his “excellent thorough and professional care”. Being diabetic also increases your risk of other eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataract. Regular advanced eye examinations are recommended annually to diagnose and treat these conditions early. If you notice any sudden changes in your vision, Alisdair recommends an urgent eye examination using the new OCT-A scan where applicable.
Business Focus
Buchanan Optometrists sight-saving OCT-A scans and more about how diabetes
Visit
www.diabeticeyecare.co.uk
56 Malling Road, Snodland, Kent ME6 5NB
Maidstone August 2019 9
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