Our work with diabetic retinopathy

£25

Diabetic retinopathy is the sixth most common cause of blindness, affecting 1.8 million people globally.

It is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina as a result of diabetes.

Your gift could fund Sightsavers' work to prevent and treat this disease by providing eye screening camps for diabetics, equipment to identify the disease in its early stages and training for counsellors to educate diabetic patients.

"Most diabetic patients don't get their eyes checked until there is a problem" Dr Pawan Gupta, India

Grandmother Indra was diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago.

In 2007 she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and referred for laser treatment. Had Indra not received these treatments, there would have been a risk of needing major surgery in the future.

Indra has also been given glasses which have improved her vision a little and, as well as monitoring her diet and sugar intake, Indra uses tablets and insulin.

"I can get around on my own but can no longer do my needlework" 65-year-old Indra Arora, Delhi, India