Beware of rising blood sugar level, it may not only force you to give up sweets but can also make you blind. India, which already has the dubious distinction of being the diabetic capital of the world, is now witnessing a larger number of patients reporting vision-loss at an early age.
According to a recent study, nearly 18 per cent of urban working population is falling prey to retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in working age group. Dr Rajiv Raman, director, vitreoretinal services at Choithram Nethralaya and also the principal investigator of this study, says, "With diabetes hitting working population aged 35 and above, more and more numbers are reporting with retinopathy. Out of 100 patients with diabetes, 18-20 are diagnosed with mild to severe retinopathy."
He attributes the rising trend of retinopathy to changing lifestyle, eating habits of young population, hypertension and diabetes being reported at early age. The study was conducted on nearly 6,000 people based on socio-economic criteria.
The study used multi-stage random sampling method. The measures included were age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, and correlation of prevalence with history-based risk factors. The results found that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in general population was 3.5 per cent. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the population with diabetes mellitus was 18.0 per cent. The duration of diabetes is the strongest predictor for diabetic retinopathy. The study also found that if the age of onset of diabetes is less than 30 years then chances of developing severe retinopathy are five times higher. The disease is more common in men.
Dr Raman said, "We found an interesting fact that though diabetes has rural/ urban difference and difference in rich or poor, diabetic retinopathy does not. Once a person has diabetes, irrespective of socio-economic difference or geographic difference, he has similar chances of getting retinopathy."
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO), India will become one of the major hubs of diabetic population during the next two decades; the number of cases of adult-onset diabetes mellitus will grow to nearly 80 million in 2030. According to doctors working in the field of diabetes in city, out of 100 cases 15-20 are found to have the problem of vision-loss or retinopathy.
Dr P G Raman, senior diabetologist, says, "The problem is becoming more common these days. There are several cases where the problem is still unknown. I recommend my patients to get an eye check-up if there is vision-loss rather than changing spectacles."
Earlier news reports say India is also home to the largest number of the blind in the world. The problem of retinopathy persists but only limited data are available on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the general population. As the awareness regarding the disease is low, people usually report at a stage when severe damage is already done.
Reasons:
The possible reasons for the rising trend of diabetic retinopathy are acculturation, changing lifestyles, changing food habits and more sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms and detection:
Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, nor is there any pain. Be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Blurred vision may occur when the macula-the part of the retina that provides sharp central vision-swells from leaking fluid.
Treatment and measures:
During the first three stages of diabetic retinopathy, no treatment is needed, unless you have macular edema. To prevent progression of the disease, people with diabetes should control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Proliferate retinopathy is treated with laser surgery. This procedure is called scatter laser treatment.
According to a recent study, nearly 18 per cent of urban working population is falling prey to retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in working age group. Dr Rajiv Raman, director, vitreoretinal services at Choithram Nethralaya and also the principal investigator of this study, says, "With diabetes hitting working population aged 35 and above, more and more numbers are reporting with retinopathy. Out of 100 patients with diabetes, 18-20 are diagnosed with mild to severe retinopathy."
He attributes the rising trend of retinopathy to changing lifestyle, eating habits of young population, hypertension and diabetes being reported at early age. The study was conducted on nearly 6,000 people based on socio-economic criteria.
The study used multi-stage random sampling method. The measures included were age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, and correlation of prevalence with history-based risk factors. The results found that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in general population was 3.5 per cent. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the population with diabetes mellitus was 18.0 per cent. The duration of diabetes is the strongest predictor for diabetic retinopathy. The study also found that if the age of onset of diabetes is less than 30 years then chances of developing severe retinopathy are five times higher. The disease is more common in men.
Dr Raman said, "We found an interesting fact that though diabetes has rural/ urban difference and difference in rich or poor, diabetic retinopathy does not. Once a person has diabetes, irrespective of socio-economic difference or geographic difference, he has similar chances of getting retinopathy."
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO), India will become one of the major hubs of diabetic population during the next two decades; the number of cases of adult-onset diabetes mellitus will grow to nearly 80 million in 2030. According to doctors working in the field of diabetes in city, out of 100 cases 15-20 are found to have the problem of vision-loss or retinopathy.
Dr P G Raman, senior diabetologist, says, "The problem is becoming more common these days. There are several cases where the problem is still unknown. I recommend my patients to get an eye check-up if there is vision-loss rather than changing spectacles."
Earlier news reports say India is also home to the largest number of the blind in the world. The problem of retinopathy persists but only limited data are available on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the general population. As the awareness regarding the disease is low, people usually report at a stage when severe damage is already done.
Reasons:
The possible reasons for the rising trend of diabetic retinopathy are acculturation, changing lifestyles, changing food habits and more sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms and detection:
Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, nor is there any pain. Be sure to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Blurred vision may occur when the macula-the part of the retina that provides sharp central vision-swells from leaking fluid.
Treatment and measures:
During the first three stages of diabetic retinopathy, no treatment is needed, unless you have macular edema. To prevent progression of the disease, people with diabetes should control their levels of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Proliferate retinopathy is treated with laser surgery. This procedure is called scatter laser treatment.
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