Diabetic Eye Disease: Minimising Impact, Maximising Reach

Diabetic eye disease related visual loss is still increasing. This is multifactorial and not one intervention can solve it, therefore we must research several angles, including patient perception and preference, teaching and evaluation of currently available material both for patients and for healthcare professionals and the entirety of the clinical pathway from screening to treatment.

Diabetes affects 1:11 of the world’s population, takes up about 10% of the healthcare budget and causes pain and suffering not only for those affected but the carers around them. Complications such as strokes, heart attacks, dialysis, amputations and blindness not only require intensive treatment, but many are expensive and provides limited benefit or increase in quality of life.

Diabetic eye disease (DED) and related visual loss is the most feared complication by most of those affected by diabetes. The appearance of DED is also indicative of poor systemic control and might signpost other complications as well. Early diagnosis and treatment help prevent visual loss. How effective such strategies are around the world and how to promote DED as a public health concern is still not well understood.

The aim of this PhD is to investigate aspects of this devastating disease both from qualitative and quantitative point of view.

Objectives are to investigate the best available evidence for the clinical pathways established (or to be established if in a country where none exists); to establish best screening and treatment methods for a given population; to study patient and carer preference and satisfaction with treatment options; to establish imaging and image analysis methods most suitable.

Start Date: October 2022