Macular Disease Foundation Australia have collaborated with Sight For All to develop a new education program, raising awareness to diabetic eye disease. Diabetic eye disease is the leading cause of avoidable vision loss and blindness in working age Australians. It is estimated that up to 1 in 3 Australians with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy, which is one of the diabetes related conditions that affects the retina and can lead to macula damage.
The free education program will focus on delivery to rural and regional communities in South Australia that have higher rates of diabetes. So far we have visited Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, Peterborough. Port Pirie and Berri. Future sessions to central and south-east SA are being planned. The program will cover the types of diabetic eye disease, how to reduce the risk of vision loss and the local support team that is available. The program has also been modified to train Aboriginal health workers and other clinicians working in regional Aboriginal health clinics to optimise patient management and education.
Here is some of the feedback from the last few sessions:
“Both Jo and Natasha were very informative. Presentation was very easy to understand” – Port Pirie attendee
“The information was very well presented – my issue is macular degeneration – but all the info was important” – Port Augusta attendee
“It was great. Easy to listen to and understand” – Pika Wiya Health Service clinician .
Special thanks to Lions Australia and local optometry practices that have assisted in the promotion of the events