About two third of Indians are unaware that uncontrolled diabetes can cause permanent damage to the eyes resulting in loss of vision, says Dr Saurabh Choudhry, the Chief Executive Officer of Noida-based ICARE Eye Hospital.

Stating that people with uncontrolled blood sugar for 10-12 years may develop diabetic retinopathy, Dr Choudhry said that, if not treated in time, it can cause irreparable eye damage resulting in vision loss.

According to him, diabetic retinopathy is the third leading cause of blindness in the country after cataracts and glaucoma, and regular check-ups by a specialist can play a major role in preventing it.

Quoting recent studies, Dr Choudhry said that 63% of Indians lack awareness that diabetes can damage eye health.

“In fact, 93% of diabetic patients in the country tend to visit an ophthalmologist only after they have started experiencing vision problems. But at that stage, the damage to the eye is significant, and treatment becomes difficult,” he pointed out.

“Through regular checkups, diabetes-induced changes in the eyes can be picked up early, even though the patient has no symptoms,” Dr Choudhry added.

Pointing out that a large number of diabetics get diagnosed during routine eye exams,  he stressed that all healthy people should undergo an eye exam once a year, and diabetic patients should see an eye specialist once every four months.

“About 80% of patients of diabetic retinopathy face visual challenges while driving, reading, or working,” Dr Choudhry said.

Stating that early detection, keeping control of sugar levels, and availability of modern procedures can allow diabetic patients to maintain good vision throughout their lives, he said that most people in the country, irrespective of education or socio-economic background, do not undergo regular screening for either eyes or diabetes, and reach doctors in advanced stages when treatment becomes a challenge.

“Regular eye screening and on-time treatment are mandatory for a diabetic patient to prevent complications of retinopathy,” Dr Choudhry stressed.

According to the findings of a survey, published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 11.8% were found to be diabetic, and a third of them were diagnosed to be suffering from diabetic retinopathy during the survey.

The study further revealed that while 16.9% of diabetics had diabetic retinopathy, 3.6% suffered from sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and a further 11.8% suffered from mild retinopathy.