Experts observe an increase in Diabetic Retinopathy patients in the age group of 35-45 years
Pune (P&V News Service) : With over 77 million people with diabetes in India, the country has emerged as the diabetes capital of the world. As a reason, a simultaneous and sharp rise has been observed in the prevalence of diabetes-related preventable vision loss. It is estimated that 1.1-crore people are suffering from retinal disorders in India and more alarmingly, about one in every three people living with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy2, a diabetes complication that affects eyes.
With the growing incidence of diabetes, it has been estimated that Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects 1 in 3 people with diabetes and remains the leading cause of blindness in young working-aged adults.Dr. Nitin Prabhudesai, Medical Director Insight Vision Foundation said, “Owing to the pandemic, we have witnessed a delay in people coming for follow-ups, which has worsened the retinal health of people suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Major cases are observed in the working population that fall in the age bracket of 35-45, and this trend is growing by the day. Diabetic retinopathy is caused when one cannot control their blood sugar levels, and this is majorly due to unhealthy eating styles and excessive smoking. A lot of awareness needs to be generated about its conditions and long-term treatment plans. If diagnosed at an early stage then it is not a painful, but if it is delayed, then the condition can worsen leading to complete vision loss which is irreversible.”
DME is the most common form of diabetic retinopathy, which arises when the damaged blood vessels swell and flow into the macula of the retina causing visibility issues in the normal vision. While medical advancements have made treatments easy and effective, it is the delay in diagnosis that leads to a high percentage of diabetic retinopathy cases. “Young diabetics also need to keep in mind, if their sugar level is well controlled, it is still important to have yearly check-ups to catch the problem early before it causes any form of visual disturbance.”, he added
On being diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, it is important to adhere to the treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle to effectively manage diabetes and to prevent the onset or progression of eye diseases.
