People in Poole were given guidance on diabetes risks as staff at Specsavers Poole dressed in blue to support World Diabetes Awareness Day and speak with residents about early warning signs.
Emily Haysom, an optical assistant, organised the day to encourage people to understand the signs of diabetes and the benefits of arranging regular eye health checks. She said the team wanted to explain how early action can help people notice changes linked to the condition.
Retail director Emma Gibbs and ophthalmic director Sinan Khan explained that eye tests can reveal early changes in the retina linked to diabetes, sometimes before people notice any symptoms. They said this can help prevent complications that may lead to sight loss because diabetic retinopathy can progress without clear warning signs.
Sinan said many people are unaware that sight loss can often be prevented or treated if the cause is identified early. He added that tests can also flag other conditions such as glaucoma, high blood pressure or signs linked to a risk of stroke.
National figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People show that one in five people will experience sight loss during their lifetime, and 250 people start to lose their sight every day.
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