National Eye Health Week: “Nobody should be losing their sight to diabetes if it’s preventable”

A 53-year-old man from Swansea, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since he was five, is drawing on his lived experience to help shape research that could change how people with diabetes receive vital eye care. 

Paul Coker began his involvement in diabetes-related research in 2018 and is now a public involvement member and co-applicant in the AVENUE-PDR study. 

The study is led by Professor Steve Bain, Specialty Lead for Diabetes at Health and Care Research Wales and Assistant Medical Director for Research & Development for Swansea Bay University Health Board. It is funded by Health and Care Research Wales and is exploring whether trained eye care practitioners, as well as doctors, can safely provide laser treatment for people with diabetes at risk of sight loss.

For Paul, the study is personal. He said: “I’ve had successful treatment on my eyes with laser therapy that has preserved my vision to this point in time. 

“It saddens me deeply that there are people out there whose eyesight is at risk because they’re on a waiting list to see a specialist. 

If this study works, more people could get the care they need, when they need it.”

Paul has seen first-hand the challenges faced by people with diabetes. He added: “Diabetes was the leading cause of sight loss in working-age people until recently. Modern treatments have helped, but it’s still one of the biggest causes. That’s why research like AVENUE-PDR is so important.”

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of sight loss amongst people of working age in the UK.

Paul believes the study could make a real difference for patients and the NHS alike. He continued: 

It’s a win-win-win. The person with diabetes wins because they get timely treatment. 

“The healthcare system wins because we ease the pressure on overstretched services. And highly trained doctors can focus on the most complex cases. I see only potential upsides.”

Paul is keen to highlight the importance of regular eye checks and timely access to treatment. He will begin a PhD at Swansea University in October, focusing on how the complications of diabetes are communicated in ways that are both empathetic and empowering.

He said: “Nobody should be losing their sight to diabetes if it’s preventable. It’s devastating not just for the individual, but for their families too. If we can reduce that risk, even a little, then we’ve done something truly important.”

Professor Bain said: “There is a shortage of eye specialist consultants, not only in Wales and the UK, but throughout the world. This, in conjunction with increasing numbers of people living with diabetes, means that many people with sight-threatening eye conditions cannot access timely laser therapy. 

The AVENUE-PDR study will examine whether eye care practitioners, who are not consultants, can safely administer laser treatment, potentially relieving this bottleneck and preventing avoidable blindness.”

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