In the lead up to World Optometry Day on 23 March 2025, Diabetes Australia is calling for all eye care professionals to get on board with KeepSight – the free national programme that aims to save sight by ensuring people living with diabetes have timely eye checks.
More than 540,000 Australians living with diabetes are now registered to receive Diabetes Australia’s KeepSight diabetes eye check reminders, with more than 5,000 new participants joining the programme every month.
But with 1.9 million Australians living with diabetes, there is still a way to go.
While people living with diabetes can register themselves onto the KeepSight programme, most active participants are referred by their optometrist. More than 80% of eye care professionals are now registered as KeepSight providers and Diabetes Australia is keen to work with more. According to Diabetes Australia’s KeepSight Programme Director Chief Strategy Officer, Taryn Black, there are a multitude of reasons why people might not engage in regular eye checks.
“Diabetes is a complex condition and people living with it have a lot to manage. It is relentless. There is never a day off. Often people are also dealing with other, potentially more urgent complications. The need to have an eye check may be down the pecking order of priority,” Ms Black said.
“Also, diabetic retinopathy can be asymptomatic. People might think their vision is fine so there is no need to prioritise a check right now.
“On top of this, there may be other concerns that people have – the cost, access to a local eye care provider, worry that having an eye check may hurt or that the check might actually find a problem – are just some of the many potential barriers.
“This is where KeepSight plays such an important role. The KeepSight team routinely engages with people with diabetes, encouraging them to sign up for checks but also working to allay any other barriers or concerns people may have.
“This work to drive more people with diabetes into the clinic for a check is a critical piece of the KeepSight effort. But none of this would be possible without the support of optometrists around Australia, whose dedication to early intervention and regular monitoring is critical in reducing the incidence of diabetes-related vision loss. Their commitment to patient care ensures people living with diabetes are supported in maintaining their vision and overall health.”
Ms Black said the impact of diabetes on eye health nationally is significant, “with some local geographic regions having up to 35% of residents living with diabetes, underscoring the critical need for regular and accessible eye care”.
She said KeepSight’s mission is to direct people with diabetes into routine eye care and remind them to keep going back.
“The most important thing a person living with diabetes can do to protect their eyes is to have regular checks,” Ms Black concluded.
Visit: keepsight.org.au.
