John Smith is a 60-year-old diabetic patient. He regularly attends the clinic where you are completing your placement. During a regular check-up, you notice that Mr. Smith is having trouble reading
and is very sensitive to glare. On checking his file, it becomes evident that he has very poorly managed blood sugar levels and is also hypertensive. He is referred to an eye care specialist.
During a follow-up visit, Mr. Smith mentions that the specialist has diagnosed him with diabetic retinopathy. Mr. Smith doesn’t understand how his long-standing diabetes can result in him
potentially losing his sight and has asked him to help him understand the anatomy of the eye and how diabetes can affect the normal function of the eye.
Write a short essay to explain the anatomy of the eye, how vision is achieved and briefly discuss how high blood sugar can damage the retina. Be sure to use language that Mr. Smith will understand;
he has not studied science since high school. In your explanation you must include at least one (1) hand drawn labelled diagram that clearly shows the anatomy of the eye. The following must be
labelled on your diagram: the optic nerve, optic disc, retina, iris, pupil, lens, suspensory ligaments and the cornea.