Coinciding with National Diabetes Week (13-19 July), Deloitte has released a report highlighting the impact that KeepSight – the programme that reminds people with diabetes to have regular eye checks – is having on health and economic outcomes in Australia.
Unveiling the Value of KeepSight: Enhancing Diabetes-Related Vision Care and Preventing Vision Loss reveals that more than a third of Australians living with diabetes are now registered to receive KeepSight’s crucial safety-net reminders – up from 4% in 2020.
Established in 2019, and run by Diabetes Australia, KeepSight sends participants regular reminders via email, SMS, or post, in addition to any reminders from their eye care provider.
KeepSight clinical director Peter van Wijngaarden said the Deloitte report identified that the program was facilitating behaviour change in several ways.
“We have evidence to show that KeepSight is helping many people who are at risk of vision loss access the eye checks that they need,” Professor van Wijngaarden said.
“Nearly a third of those who registered with the program had not seen an eye care provider in more than two years. These people are now engaging in regular cycles of eye care to safeguard their vision.
“KeepSight also provides a backstop for people who might have missed reminders to reattend their eye care provider for their next eye check.
“People who are registered with KeepSight are 20% more likely to return for their diabetes eye checks than people who are not,” he said. “It is clear that KeepSight is empowering Australians with diabetes to have the regular eye checks they need to reduce their risk of vision loss.”
Reminders Save Sight
Diabetes Australia Group CEO Justine Cain said that more than 90% of diabetes-related eye complications could be prevented or significantly delayed if caught early.
“This proactive approach not only preserves vision and improves quality of life but also reduces the healthcare costs associated with treating advanced eye conditions related to diabetes,” Ms Cain said.
And according to Vision 2020 Australia CEO Carly Ile, the economic cost of avoidable diabetes vision loss was as high as AU$5.3 billion per annum.
“By promoting regular eye checks and timely intervention, KeepSight is contributing to a reduction in these costs in Australia,” Ms Iles said.
Ms Cain said there are several barriers that prevent people with diabetes from seeking the care they need. “Diabetes is relentless, there’s no day off. People manage multiple health concerns, and eye checks can slip down the priority list.
“Also, diabetic retinopathy can develop without symptoms. People might think their vision is fine, so they don’t need to prioritise a check right now, but research shows regular eye checks are critical.”
“Barriers like cost, access, fear of discomfort, or worry about finding a problem can prevent people from seeking care. KeepSight helps break down these barriers by providing reminders and reassurance from a trusted source,” Ms Cain said.
Encouraging Collaboration
KeepSight was funded by the Australian Government and public-private partnerships, including founding partner Specsavers, as well as support from the wider eye sector, including Vision 2020 Australia, RANZCO, and Optometry Australia, KeepSight was developed as a crucial step toward a national diabetes eye screening system.
The Deloitte report highlights the programme’s success in bringing these organisations together to create a coordinated approach to diabetes-related eye care, setting a new national benchmark, and ensuring consistent and effective eye care practices across optometry clinics.
Specsavers Clinical Director Ben Ashby said since 2019, 75% of its patients with diabetes gave consent and were enrolled in KeepSight. These patients enter into a new clinical pathway in optometry care, in which diabetes status is systematically documented and monitored consistently throughout the eye care continuum.
“This enables a nationally consistent approach to managing diabetes eye health, improving efficiency and enhancing timely access to co-management and treatment,” Mr Ashby said.
Over 80% of Australia’s major optometry providers are now integrated with KeepSight; however, continued efforts are needed to expand the programme’s reach among independent practices, smaller chains, and providers in rural and remote areas.
Beyond Eyes
Diabetes Australia is using this National Diabetes Week as a platform for reinforcing the prevention and early detection message.
Australians are being offered free health checks in more than 300 pharmacies across the country in an effort to turn the dial on type 2 diabetes prevention.
The early detection initiative provides free access to Priceline Health Stations in participating pharmacies, giving people a quick and easy way to check their cardiovascular and metabolic health risks, with instant results.
Ms Cain said the initiative had the potential to save thousands of lives and ease growing pressure on the health system with around 500,000 Australians not even aware they had diabetes.
“Worryingly, there are another two million people who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A simple, free check could be the difference between early detection and a life-threatening event like a heart attack or stroke.”
Reference
Deloitte Access Economics. Unveiling the Value of KeepSight: Enhancing Diabetes-Related Vision Care and Preventing Vision Loss Diabetes Australia Final Report 2025.
