Gujarat: Most people with diabetes uninformed on retinal health

People living with diabetes in Gujarat have not been educated enough about the toll the condition can take on their vision. A study by the Retina Foundation has highlighted the need for creating and spreading awareness about Diabetic Macular Endema (DME), a condition that people living with diabetes are more prone to develop.

DME is a condition in which the damaged blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye swell and leak into the macula of the retina lack of visibility.

Dr Manish Nagpal, ophthalmologist with the Retina Foundation said 50% of the new cases that come to the tertiary referral centre have diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which the retinal blood vessels are damaged.

"It constitutes for 4.8% of the blindness in the world. Diabetic Retinopathy can also to DME," said Dr Nagpal.

He said only 10% to 15% of people living with diabetes, who have received proper counselling from their doctors, make it a point to get their vision screened from time to time after being diagnosed with diabetes.

"If you have had diabetes for almost a decade you have a 50% chance of developing DME and as the years go up so does the possibility of the disease," said Dr Nagpal.

He said that while cataract was considered the major cause of blindness until now, and efforts, both at the private and government level had been directed towards it, there is a need to concentrate on DME as well as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). The latter is typically seen in people over 50 years of age and its occurrence is dependent on a number of factors including genes, smoking etc.

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an eye-condition linked to diabetes. Some people with diabetes develop a form of retinopathy that progresses into DME.

It occurs when fluid leaks into the macula causing it to swell. The swelling blurs the vision and affects one's ability to see details clearly.

DME is the most common form of Diabetic Retinopathy. It is a chronic disease which leads to permanent vision loss.

INSIGHT INTO DIABETES MACULAR EDEMA

WHAT IS DME

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an eye-condition linked to diabetes. Some people with diabetes develop a form of retinopathy that progresses into DME
It occurs when fluid leaks into the macula causing it to swell. The swelling blurs the vision and affects one’s ability to see details clearly
DME is the most common form of Diabetic Retinopathy. It is a chronic disease which leads to permanent vision loss
Diabetic Retinopathy constitutes 4.8% of blindness in the world

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Dark spots in vision
Blurred or fuzzy or distorted vision
Impaired colour vision
Straight lines that appear wavy or crooked
Difficulty seeing at a distance

WHY THE DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS

Ignorance of symptoms
Lack of medical adherence for example, patients living with diabetes should visit ophthalmologist in every 6 months. However, many patients have been reported to have skipped regular screenings
Poor lifestyle management

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