India is emerging as “Diabetic Capital” of world: 72 million cases recorded in 2017, figure expected to nearly double by 2025. Diabetes is a disease that inhibits with the body’s ability to use and store sugar, which may lead to several health problems. Excess sugar present in the blood may cause damage in the entire body including eyes and may cause Diabetic retinopathy, early cataract, Glaucoma or hemorrhage. The most common eye complication in diabetes is Diabetic Retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye complication that occurs in a person due to diabetes and causes continuous damage to the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (the retina).
Diabetic retinopathy develops as a result of prolonged periods high blood levels. Over time, this can weaken and damage the network of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) on the surface of retina. These tiny blood vessels drip blood as well as other fluids that results in swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. It can lead to blindness if it is left untreated.
Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of Avoidable blindness in Indian working-age adults ages 20 -74; however, early detection
and timely treatment can reduce the risk of avoidable blindness by 95%.
It is important to schedule annual diabetic eye exams to ensure your eyes are healthy.
Diabetic Retinopathy occurs mainly due to the changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Diabetes produces weakening of the blood vessels in the body. The tiny retinal blood vessels are particularly susceptible. This deterioration of retinal blood vessels accompanied by structural changes in the retina will lead to loss of vision. When the loss of vision is caused due to diabetes, a Diabetic Retinopathy occurs.
Diabetic Retinopathy produces ocular symptoms only in the last stage of the disease. Only an ophthalmologist can detect in early signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. So, all Diabetic patients should undergo yearly eye (Retinal) examination. Symptoms like floaters, difficulty in reading and sudden loss of vision are seen in advance stages of Diabetic Retinopathy. Early detection and timely treatment significantly reduce the risk of vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy is asymptomatic to begin with. Most of the people are not aware of the eye component of diabetes and they do not go for routine eye checkup as they do it for sugar. Most people have the misconception that if the sugar is controlled, they would not have any eye complication due to diabetes.
In that context, to create awareness and to detect damages inside the eye (retina) of diabetic patient early, Tej eye center has signed a MoU with Health
& Family Welfare Department of Govt. of Gujarat during vibrant summit for Diabetic Retinopathy screening. It has been successfully running for last 01 year
in CHCs and PHCs of govt. setupusing high-end Fundus camera.