Keeping Diabetes in Check: A Crucial Step to Prevent Blindness

Dr. Shrutika Kankaria

Pune, 14th November 2023: In a world witnessing a surge in diabetic cases, the link between diabetes and blindness grows more pronounced. Today, the global effort to control diabetes is underway, emphasizing the need for awareness among the public. While various diseases can stem from diabetes, the eyes are most severely impacted, prompting a critical association between diabetes and blindness.

The rising prevalence of diabetes, attributed to lifestyle changes, sedentary habits, irregular diets, and stress, underscores the urgency of widespread awareness. Efforts are being made globally to control diabetes, but the focus must extend to informing the public about diabetes-related eye diseases and the risk of blindness. The severity of blindness due to diabetes is amplified as it affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 70, a demographic crucial to overall societal functioning.

Dr. Shrutika Kankaria, an Advanced Medical Retina Diabetic Ophthalmologist and Cataract Specialist, highlighted research by the International Diabetes Generation, revealing that 145 million people worldwide currently suffer from diabetic retinopathy, with 45 million facing life-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Projections indicate that by 2040, these numbers may escalate to 224 million and 70 million, respectively, underscoring the gravity of this disease.

While the alarming statistics paint a concerning picture, the silver lining is that diabetic blindness is preventable with determination and minimal effort. The challenge lies in early detection, as diabetic retinopathy is irreversible once diagnosed. Early identification and timely treatment significantly reduce the risk of diabetic blindness. However, the asymptomatic nature of diabetes in its early stages poses a hurdle, with patients often unaware of the potential threat to their eyes.

Diabetes often goes unnoticed in its initial stages due to the absence of serious symptoms, making it imperative to recognize the gradual damage it inflicts on vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Nearly every organ, along with the intricate capillaries supplying oxygen and nutrients, is at risk. Individuals with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes are all susceptible to diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy, caused by damage to the capillaries supplying blood to the retina, can lead to inflammation and leakage of fluid and blood. The macula, responsible for 95 percent of functions such as reading, writing, and face recognition, is particularly vulnerable. Early stages often present with no symptoms, but if left undiagnosed, it can progress to severe complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, vision loss, and ultimately, blindness.

The call to action is clear: regular screenings, awareness campaigns, and proactive management of diabetes are pivotal in preserving vision and preventing the potentially devastating impact of diabetic retinopathy. Through collective efforts, we can transform the narrative surrounding diabetes, empowering individuals to take charge of their health and safeguard their precious gift of sight.

(About Author – Dr Shrutika Kankariya is director of internationally reputed Asian Eye Hospital, Pune. She has been awarded at national stage for her expertise for treating diabetic eye diseases. She is alumnus of prestigious Sankara Nethralaya (Chennai) and one of handful retina specialist in India trained at America’s best Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She has performed more than 10 thousand eye surgeries, retinal lasers and intra vitreal injections for retinal diseases in her career spanning more than a decade.)