The National Eye Research Centre has been awarded £60,000 to help fund research into revolutionary eye treatment for diabetes patients.

This research offers hope to the hundreds of thousands of diabetes patients who endure the discomfort of monthly injections into the eye to protect them from the risk of blindness.

Advancing medical research

The study, led by Professor David Bates at The University of Nottingham, is investigating whether simple eye drops could be used instead to treat patients for the condition diabetic retinopathy. If successful, the eye drops could be available to patients on clinical trials within the next three to five years.

Professor David Bates in the University’s School of Medicine said: “We are extremely grateful for the grant we have received from the Freemasons and National Eye Research Centre. Without their support, this project would not have been possible and we would not be able to find out whether drugs that are already being developed for other eye diseases could be also be used in diabetic retinopathy.

“Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in the working population in the UK. The impact of this research means that in the future diabetic patients could be offered a better, more effective way of preventing them from losing their sight.”

“The current treatment for diabetic retinopathy is very unpleasant for the patient but also costly and time-consuming because the injection can only be performed at eye clinics by specialist doctors and nurses.

“Eye drops that patients could administer themselves would reduce both their discomfort and the financial burden which the current treatment places on the NHS.”

Around 1.2 million people are believed to suffer from diabetic retinopathy in the UK; around 750,000 of those currently experience some form of visual impairment. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) estimates that the total economic cost of sight loss including healthcare, social care and loss of employment, could be as high as £28bn per year. Globally, the condition affects in the region of 93 million people.

Find out more from Professor David Bates

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels. Over time it can weaken and damage the small blood vessels within the retina which can cause haemorrhages, leaky blood vessels and swelling on the retina. This starves the retina of oxygen, causing abnormal blood vessels to grow. If left untreated over time it can affect vision and lead to blindness.

In more serious cases, the leaking blood vessels behind the eye can lead to the condition diabetic macular oedema in which fluid builds up in the macula, the part of the eye which provides us with our central vision. The condition of patients with diabetic macular oedema can decline very quickly and can lead to rapid visual impairment and blindness.

This donation boosts the £37,000 already raised by National Eye Research Centre

Philip Marshall  from Nottinghamshire Freemasons said: “We’re very pleased to be able to support this hugely important project, which offers  hope for preventing blindness in millions of diabetic patients in this country and around the world.”

Mike Daw, Chief Executive of National Eye Research Centre said: “National Eye Research Centre is immensely proud to have been able to fund this research into finding improved treatments for this leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK.”