DIABETICS at risk of going blind can now have a free test which can detect retinal bleeding early enough to allow treatment.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust (PCT) is providing annual retinal screening for patients at risk of a complication of diabetes called diabetic retinopathy.

Screeners and new digital equipment purchased in the last month are used to identify the symptoms of the disease, which is the commonest cause of blindness in Western Europe today.

Diabetics can make appointments for screening through their GPs.

But the PCT is urging patients to notify them if they are unable to attend after up to a quarter of appointments were missed in the past month.