Eye Am What I Eat

Celebrity chef, Andrew Rudd has joined Diabetes Ireland , NCBI - the National Sight Loss A gency , Fighting Blindness, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) , the Asso ciation of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) and Novartis to launch E ye A m What I E at campaign . The campaign aims to raise awareness of diabetic macular e dema (DME) a form of diabetic retinopathy that can have a severe effect on vision, causing significant sight loss . Diabetic r etinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in working - age adults in Ireland .
In fact, Irish statistics show that on average, one person with diabetes goes blind in Ireland each week. In the early stages, diabetic r etinopathy will not affect the sight, but if the changes get worse, eventually the sight will be affected.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include blurred vision and black spots or ‘floaters’ that appear to float in your eye. According to eye doctor Mark Cahill, spokesperson for the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and retinal specialist at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hosp ital, "If diabetic retinopathy is not detected in the early stages it can lead to vision impairment and even vision loss. Eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are hugely important but it is also essential for anyone with diabetes to have their e yes screened annually in order to detect the signs of diabetic r etinopathy as early as possible."

So what do you know about eating for your eye health? Here’s your chance to find out more and enter our Eye am What I Eat campaign competition.

To get involved, and to help raise awareness of DME and diabetic retinopathy, people are invited to simply develop a recipe for eye health , and include in the recipe on  or more of the “ Top 10 Foods for Eye Health ” listed at www.eyeamwhatIeat.i

7^th July 2014