ACTOR Brian Cox has revealed his fight to keep his sight as a charity campaign reveals what Scotland looks like for patients whose vision is damaged by diabetes.
The Emmy Award winner, from Dundee, is one of more than 290,000 people in Scotland living with diabetes and undergoes regular tests to prevent the condition causing irreparable harm to his eyesight.
Diabetic retinopathy is a potential complication of diabetes and the leading cause of preventable sight loss in adults of working age.
It occurs when eye blood vessels start to either leak or become blocked and can lead to the loss of central vision or even total blindness.
However, charities say thousands of people eligible for the screening – available from opticians – do not make use of it.
Over time, sufferers develop dark blotches which obscure their vision.
The problem is highlighted in a series of new images depicting well-known landmarks covered in dark marks.
Cox, who played wartime leader Winston Churchill in a recent biopic, has also voiced a new film mimicking this effect as part of the awareness campaign.
The 90-second clip will be shown in cinemas during national eye health week.
The A-list actor said: “Like many Scots, I am living with diabetes and I am aware of the various challenges it can bring.
“To help me stay healthy, I make sure I attend my diabetes check-up appointments, including retinopathy screening, and I encourage all people with diabetes to do the same.
“Sight loss is a potentially devastating complication of diabetes which can develop if people are not supported to manage their condition well.
“However, regular retinopathy screening means that changes to the eye can be detected early enough to allow treatment which can prevent further deterioration and irreversible damage.
“I’m proud to support the ‘How Do You See Scotland?’ campaign from Diabetes Scotland and RNIB Scotland during National Eye Health Week.
“Don’t lose sight of what’s important, get your eyes checked.”
Jane-Claire Judson, national director of Diabetes Scotland, said: “It is very concerning that over 42,000 people with diabetes in Scotland do not have a record of attending a retinopathy screening appointment in the last 15 months.
“Screening is vital to pick up early warning signs of damage to the eye so that people can get the treatment needed to prevent permanent damage.
“We need to understand why people are not attending their screening appointments and what can be done to remove these barriers.”
The film opens with images of beautiful scenery in Scotland, including Glencoe and a highland cow in a field.
The famous Kelpies statues and George Square in Glasgow are also featured.
In his narration, Cox stresses that attending diabetic retinopathy screening appointments, which are different from regular eye examinations at an opticians, are important to help prevent sight loss.
Campbell Chalmers, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “Retinopathy is the single biggest cause of preventable sight loss among working-age people. That’s why it’s so important that everyone with diabetes attends the eye check-ups that are an essential part of their diabetes care.
“During National Eye Health week we want to urge people to take care of one of the most precious things we have – our sight.”
Diabetes occurs when there is excess glucose in the bloodstream because the body cannot use it properly.
Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have the Type 2 form, which is related to diet and body weight and often occurs later in life.
Sufferers may go years without a diagnosis but the condition can be treated with a healthy diet and increased exercise.
The other ten per cent of people with diabetes have the Type 1 variant, which is not related to diet or lifestyle. Its causes are not yet understood but it commonly affects children or young adults and is treated by regular doses of insulin.
As well as eye problems, failure to treat either form of diabetes can lead to a range of serious health problems, including lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.
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