Those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (where body does not use insulin properly), must have their eyes examined within first five years, while those with Type 1 (diabetes patients depending on insulin) should have their vision tested at the time of diagnosis itself, said ophthalmologists.
For, one out of every five people with diabetes in India has some degree of diabetic retinopathy(DR), the leading cause of blindness, and an estimated six million have the severe, sight threatening form (STDR) which requires treatment, according to a study.
The study was conducted by the Public Health Foundation of India in collaboration with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust’s (the Trust) and london School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The report’s alarming finding that almost half of all people with diabetes had already lost vision by the time retinopathy was diagnosed shows that intervention is needed, and quickly.
DR occurs when poor control of blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and elevated lipid levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. There is no treatment that can restore vision that has already been lost.
Unfortunately, as DR usually does not have any symptoms in the early stages, by the time the patients reach to the doctors it’s too late, says Dr Mahipal Singh Sachdev, chairman and managing director from Centre for Sight, , a group of eye hospitals in the country.
“The Government programme to screen diabetes should also include screening of eyes simultaneously, to ensure early intervention and save the sight,” he said.
The suggestion comes in the backdrop of India becoming the diabetic capital of the world — from over 69 million diabetics in 2015, number of diabetic patients is set to rise to 123 million in 2040 — visual impairment due to DR is obvious if left untreated.
Dr Ajay Aurora, senior ophthalmologist and Director Vision Plus Eye Centre in Noida says, subsequent follow-up will be decided by the severity of the DR detected by the eye specialist (preferably retina specialists).
As diabetic effect on eyes causes fluctuating vision, blurring of vision, black spots in front of eyes, double vision, and rarely pain with loss of vision, all these problems can be prevented with proper control of sugar and blood pressure. Regular eye check ups is a must so that treatment can be started early, adds Dr Praveen Vashist, Head of Community Ophthalmology, Dr RP Centre, AIIMS.
A combination of regular exercise, balanced diet, regular medicines and at least once a year proper eye checkup is mandatory, sums up Dr Vashist who has conducted several studies related to prevalence of blindness in the community in the country.