Researchers at Warwick Medical School are urging people with Diabetes to make sure they go for their annual eye screening checks.

The free annual check which looks for problems associated with diabetes which affect vision is poorly attended, with many appointments missed or forgotten. So specialists at the University are carrying out research amongst Diabetics to find out why they seemingly don’t bother to have checks.

Feedback from the research will help shape the way the retinopathy tests are organised, communicated and booked with the aim of increasing uptake of the free health screening and preventing the rising number of people developing debilitating eye conditions.

Dr Jackie Sturt, Diabetes specialist at Warwick Medical School, explained: “We’re after people with diabetes in the Coventry and Warwickshire area who have missed a couple of eye screening appointments recently. We want to interview them to help us find better ways of encouraging people to take eye tests.

“The interview should only take about 30 minutes, can be conducted in a convenient local location or on the phone and there is a £20 voucher to spend in well known high street stores as a thank you to those who take part.”

If you wish to take part in the study or find out more about retinal screening for diabetics, please contact Jean Boston on 024 7652 8382 or email j.boston@wawick.ac.uk

For further information contact Kate Cox, Communications Manager on +44 (0)2476 574255/150483, m: +44(0)7920 531221 or kate.cox@warwick.ac.uk .