PATIENTS who fear they could lose their sight because of a condition known as diabetic retinopathy are being invited to a second public meeting to hear details of a revolutionary new form of treatment.

Following the success of an earlier meeting at NETPark in Sedgefield - which resulted in virtually all of the patients who attended signing up for treatment - a second information meeting is being held at 6.30pm on Wednesday, October 1 at the Teesside University building in Vicarage Road, Darlington.

Those attending the second meeting will hear first hand from diabetic retinopathy patient Lorraine Helliwell, 55, how wearing a light-emitting sleepmask for six weeks made such an impact on her eye disease that her hospital eye specialist discharged her.

The meeting is the first fruits of a partnership between Sedgefield-based PolyPhotonix, a high-tech company which developed the new sleepmask as a way of reversing diabetic retinopathy, and Rees and Wade, a chain of opticians which has branches in Darlington, Durham City, Guisborough, Lanchester, Yarm, Prudhoe and Ryton.

Diabetic retinopathy develops in virtually all patients with type one diabetes and can lead to blindness.

The mask works by tricking the eye that it is still daylight by emitting a low-level green light which interferes with a natural process which means the eye produces new blood vessels when it gets dark.

In a non-diabetic this tissue growth at night is beneficial, but for someone with diabetic retinopathy it makes the problem worse.

Wearing the sleep mask stops the production of damaged blood vessels and allows the eye to heal.

Richard Kirk, chief executive of PolyPhotonix, said they had chosen Wade’s to help them launch their product because of their expertise.

Alex Wade, from the Rees and Wade chain of opticians, said: “We signed up for this because the treatment is life-changing for the patient and we really wanted to be part of something this exciting.”

The sleep mask - known as the Noctura 400 – has been approved for use by patients and is on a fast track towards approval for use by the NHS. It is thought that it could save the Health Service £1bn a year.

Places at the October 1 meeting in Darlington are available on a first come, first served basis. To reserve a place ring 01325-355482.