According to a new study published in Lancet, 101 million people in India - 11.4% of the country's population - are living with diabetes. In 2019, the figure stood at 70 million.
Diabetes impacts the body's organs and has an adverse effect on eye health. Dr Chitaranjan Mishra, Head of Vitreoretinal Services, Head of Clinical Research and Academics, Trilochan Netralaya (An Orbis Partner Hospital), talks about the impact of high blood sugar on the eyes.
The most common and sight-threatening complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels over a period of time can damage the blood vessels of the retina and the light-sensitive area present at the back of the eye. This can result in swelling in the retinal tissue causing blurred vision.
Another common condition that can be accelerated by diabetes is cataracts. High blood sugar can cause structural changes in the lens of the eyes that can promote the development of cataracts. The lens of the eyes becomes cloudy and significantly blurs the vision.
By hampering the circulation and fluid regulation in the eye, diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, which is caused by damage to the optic nerve, the nerve connecting the eye to the brain. This damage leads to vision loss.
Most of the time, timely medical intervention is the best way to manage and/or treat most eye disorders and diseases and prevent vision loss.
While regular eye check-ups are recommended for everybody, people with diabetes should be extra cautious about the frequency of the eye exam.