Skip to content. Skip to navigation.
You are here: Home / Learn about blindness / Programmes for Pacific Peoples

Programmes for Pacific Peoples

Blindness Awareness and Prevention Pacific Programme

This programme helps Pacific Island peoples preserve their sight by increasing awareness of the causes of blindness.

Growing rate of diabetes and preventable blindness among Pacific peoples

Member Leao Siitia who lost his vision from Diabetic Retinopathy.
Member Leao Siitia who lost his vision from Diabetic Retinopathy
  • About 100,000 people have Type 2 diabetes in New Zealand, including 8,000 Pacific Islands people.
  • By the year 2021, the number of Pacific Islands people in NZ with diabetes will increase by 110%.
  • As the rates of diabetes increases, sight loss will also increase. This is because diabetes causes diabetic retinopathy.

"I used to look at people's faces, my children, my family. Now I can only hear their voices.

I didn't know the seriousness of the problem until it was too late."

Leao Siitia


What is diabetic retinopathy?

What your vision may be like with Diabetic Retinopathy.
What your vision may be like with Diabetic Retinopathy

Small blood vessels in the retina weaken. Haemorrhages (bleeding) occur, and blood leaks into the eye. This leads to reduced vision, sensitivity to glare, and decreased night vision.

Sight loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented through regular eye checks, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise and good management of diabetes.

Causes of diabetes

A Pacific Services staff member comments: "Pacific Islands people are increasingly prone to diabetes because of their diet and a lack of physical activity. We can save our sight through healthier foods and more exercise."

High-fat foods to avoid include corned beef, povi masima, pork, coconut cream and butter.

Back to menu

General tips to protect your eyes

Some causes of preventable blindness

There are many ways in which we put our eyes at risk – unnecessarily. Along with diabetic retinopathy, other causes of vision loss include:

  • Exposure to UV rays (sunlight).
  • Accidents around the home, in the garden and workplace.

Tips to protect your eyes

Getting the eyes tested for Diabetic Retinopathy.
Getting the eyes tested for Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Get your eyes checked every year.
  • Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and low-fat food.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.
  • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from injury when mowing lawns, using a chainsaw, welding etc.
  • Wear 99-100% UV protective sunglasses to protect your eyes from sunlight (wrap-around styles recommended).
  • Stop smoking.
Back to menu

Contact us

For further information about diabetic retinopathy or our Blindness Awareness and Prevention Programmes, please contact:

Veta Endemann, RNZFB Manager Pacific Services, ph: 09 355 6991 or 0800 24 33 33.

Back to menu