Pregnancy can be a time of joy, excitement, and anticipation
For Vicky Williams, a mother of two young girls, her pregnancies were also a time of added medical vigilance, due to her type 1 diabetes.
Thanks to the HSE’s Diabetic RetinaScreen (DRS) programme, which now offers priority eye screening for pregnant women with diabetes, Vicky was able to navigate her second pregnancy with added peace of mind.
Since early 2023, the DRS programme has provided additional, convenient screening for diabetic retinopathy to pregnant women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
This initiative has screened over 800 pregnant women across Ireland, aiming to catch any early signs of diabetic retinopathy before symptoms arise.
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition affecting the retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye.
In people with diabetes, blood vessels in the retina can leak or become blocked, threatening vision, according to the HSE.
Pregnancy can increase the risk of this condition, making eye screening incredibly important for pregnant women with diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy can progress silently, with many people experiencing no symptoms in the early stages.
Regular screening is vital for timely detection and intervention, helping prevent vision loss and safeguarding eye health.
Vicky’s first pregnancy with her daughter Chloe, now three, was challenging from an eye-care perspective.
With no specialised pregnancy screening option at the time, she had to travel from her home in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, to Dublin for each appointment.
By the time Vicky was pregnant with her second daughter, Ellie, the new DRS initiative was available. She recalls the process as “extremely efficient,” adding that it allowed her to prioritise her eye health without sacrificing convenience.
“If an appointment didn’t suit, it was rescheduled straight away,” Vicky says. The flexibility to visit a nearby centre made balancing her care needs with her busy life much easier.
Throughout her pregnancy, the Diabetic RetinaScreen team was attentive and proactive, according to Vicky.
During an appointment around her 26th week, a change was detected in one of her eyes, prompting a referral to the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin.
Vicky’s story shows the importance of accessible screening: “The fear of going blind is probably my worst fear out of everything that comes with having diabetes. Anything I can do to prevent that is worth it.”
While further examination at the hospital revealed no retinopathy, the continued monitoring reassured Vicky, especially as the pregnancy progressed.
“I was closely monitored for the rest of the pregnancy,” she explained, “which was reassuring because as the baby grows, the risk of retinopathy increases.”
After Ellie’s birth in October, Vicky’s follow-up screening confirmed everything was normal, and she went back to her annual DRS screenings.
“I was thankful it continued after the baby was born. I knew if there were still changes in my eyes, I would be in the right place.”
Dr. David Keegan, Diabetic RetinaScreen Clinical Director, emphasised the value of the initiative: “The pregnancy screening initiative is designed to meet women’s need for additional, convenient, priority eye screening.”
Since its launch, many women with types 1 and 2 diabetes who had not previously undergone retinopathy screening have now accessed the service, which is painless, safe, and involves taking digital photos of the eyes.
The symptoms
While diabetic retinopathy is often asymptomatic in its early stages, individuals with diabetes should be vigilant for signs such as:
- Gradually worsening vision
- Sudden vision loss
- Shapes floating in their vision (floaters)
- Blurred or patchy vision
- Eye pain or redness
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your GP or diabetes care team immediately.
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