Diabetes is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment, as it can lead to a host of ocular pathologies including cataracts, intraocular bleeding, macular oedema and retinal detachments. This damage is often gradual or progressive and is therefore not brought to the attention of an appropriate medical professional in time to prevent permanent vision loss.   Regular eye examinations by a skilled optometrist with access to a retinal camera and OCT scanner is paramount in detecting and preventing permanent vision loss in diabetics.