§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are(a) the proportion of sight disorders attributable to diabetic retinopathy and (b) the annual Government expenditure on preventative and treatment facilities designed to alleviate this condition. [64971]
§ Mr. HuttonNew registrations for blindness in England and Wales (1990–1991) show that, among people of working age (16–64), diabetes is the most common cause of blindness (13.8 per cent.) with 11.9 per cent. of cases of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is also the cause of 8.2 per cent. of registrations for partial sight among this age group. For people over 65, diabetic retinopathy accounts for 2.2 per cent. of new registrations for partial sight.
73WThe condition is treated by regular eye examinations of diabetics and, where there are signs of retinal deterioration, treatment by laser coagulation. Information is not available on the total expenditure on these facilities which span both hospital and community general ophthalmic services.