New Delhi, Nov 13 : With a whopping 77 million people in India living with diabetes, a simultaneous and sharp rise has been observed in the prevalence of diabetes-related preventable vision loss, particularly among the young people, say experts.New Delhi, Nov 13, : .With an astounding 77 million Indians living with diabetes, experts say that a sharp rise in diabetes-related vision loss has been seen, especially among young people. Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic, progressive retinal disease that is a leading cause of vision impairment in today’s young adults, working population.Diabetic Retinopathy is a progressive, chronic retinal disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in today’s working age population.It’s of major concern among children suffering from juvenile diabetes (Type-1 diabetes) and especially if they have had diabetes for over 10 years.This is especially true for children with juvenile diabetes (Type-1 diabetics) or those who have been living with diabetes for more than 10 years.
It is estimated that approximately 1.1-crore people are suffering from retinal disorders in India and more alarmingly, about one in every three people living with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes complication that affects eyes.India has an estimated 1.1-crore population suffering from retinal diseases.Worse, one third of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy.
This is a condition that affects the eyes and can be fatal.
“With the growing incidence of diabetes, it has been estimated that diabetic retinopathy affects one in three people with diabetes and remains the leading cause of blindness in young working-aged adults,” Mahipal Sachdev, Medical Director and Chairman, Centre for Sight Group of Eye Hospital, told IANS.”With increasing diabetes incidence, it has been estimated diabetic retinopathy affects 1 in 3 people with diabetes.It remains the leading cause of blindness among young working-age adults,” Mahipal Sachdev (Medical Director and Chairman, Centre for Sight Group of Eye Hospital), told IANS.
“Approximately 7-10 per cent of young diabetics will go on to develop diabetic retinopathy, of which 2-4 per cent will have vision threatening sequelae if not taken proper treatment.”.”Approximately 7-10% of young diabetics will develop diabetic retinalopathy.Of these, 2-4 percent will experience vision-threatening sequelae if they are not treated properly.” added Dr.Aditya Sudhalkar, M.S.Aditya Sudhalkar M.S.Ophthalmology, Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon.Ophthalmology, Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgery.
The most common form of diabetic retinopathy is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) which arises when the damaged blood vessels swell and flow into the macula of the retina causing visibility issues in the normal vision.
Diabetic Macular Edema is the most common type of diabetic retinalopathy.This occurs when blood vessels that are damaged swell and flow into their macula, causing vision problems.
According to Dr.Chaitra Jayadev, senior vitreo-retinal consultant, Narayana Nethralaya Eye Institute Karnataka, studies have shown that the prevalence of DME and diabetic retinopathy is higher and more severe in young diabetics with a longer duration of diabetes.Dr.Chaitra Jayadev is a senior vitreoretinal consultant at Narayana Nethralaya eye Institute Karnataka.Studies have shown that DME and diabetic retinalopathy are more common in younger diabetics who have had diabetes for a longer time.
“Diabetes in the younger is a distinct pathological entity characterised by a more aggressive presentation and manifestation.
Diabetes in younger people is a distinct entity that manifests itself as a more severe and aggressive form of diabetes.An earlier onset of diabetes leads to a longer exposure to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.
Diabetes that is diagnosed earlier can lead to higher insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.This gives rise to a greater propensity for developing long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications,” Dr.Jayadev said.This increases the risk of developing long-term macrovascular and microvascular complications,” Dr.Jayadev stated.
Thus, screening for diabetes is of utmost importance, even if one is “young” and has no symptoms.
Even if you are young and have no symptoms, it is important to screen for diabetes.It becomes more crucial if one has risk factors such as family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, or on long term steroid medications.
This is even more important if there are risk factors like obesity, long-term steroid use, and family history.
Dr.
Sudhalkar said that in India, there is a general reluctance towards attending clinics and nearly 25 per cent of young patients with DME come late for diagnosis.Dr.Sudhalkar stated that India has a general reluctance to visit clinics, and almost 25% of DME patients are late for diagnosis.
“It’s important to know, only 11 per cent of diabetic retinopathy patients can actually reverse vision threatening sequelae once they set in.”It is important to note that only 11% of diabetic retinopathy sufferers can reverse the vision-threatening sequelae they have developed.The rest continue to progress even with strict glycemic control,” he noted.
He noted that the rest of them continue to improve even with strict glycemic controls.
“Retinopathy, unfortunately, is the most neglected complication of diabetes.”Retinopathy is unfortunately the most overlooked complication of diabetes.We see so many patients come to OPD where eyes have not been checked for.OPD sees so many patients who have never had their eyes checked.So the screening, also known as Funduscopy, should be done at the time of diagnosis of Type-2 diabetes, in adults, and in children, five years after the onset of diabetes, and thereafter annually,” Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, HOD, Endocrinology at Artemis, Gurugram, told IANS.
The screening, also called Funduscopy, should take place at the time of Type-2 diagnosis in both adults and children five years after the onset, and every year thereafter,” Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, HOD Endocrinology at Artemis Gurugram told IANS.
If diabetes occurs near puberty, then funduscopy should be checked for potential retinopathy.
Funduscopy should be performed if diabetes is suspected to have occurred near puberty.
“It is important because the condition poses no symptoms in the initial days.
It is crucial because there are no symptoms at the beginning of the condition.And once symptoms set in, such as bleeding in the eye, red vision, sudden loss of vision, it’s too late,” Kapoor said.
Kapoor stated that once symptoms start to develop, such as red vision, bleeding, or sudden loss of sight, it is too late.
The doctors advised to adhere to the treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle to effectively manage diabetes and to prevent the onset or progression of eye diseases.
To effectively manage diabetes and prevent eye disease progression, the doctors recommended that patients follow the prescribed treatment #Young #diabetics #greater #risk #Delhi
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