By Dr. Sk Sabir Rahaman, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology), DFM(Family Medicine), FCFM, CCEBDM, CCLSD
Diabetes doesn’t just affect your blood sugar—it can also silently damage your eyes. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss among working-age adults, and in India, the numbers are alarming.
📊 The Scale of the Problem
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India is home to one of the largest diabetic populations in the world—projected to reach 125 million by 2045.
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As diabetes cases rise, so will diabetic retinopathy and related vision problems.
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Many cases of diabetes remain undiagnosed, increasing the risk of irreversible vision damage.
🩺 Risk Factors and Findings
The SMART-India study highlighted key risk factors for vision loss among diabetics, including:
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Long-standing diabetes
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Poor blood sugar control
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Co-existing conditions like hypertension
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Presence of cataracts, which are more common in diabetics and can further obscure retinal assessment.
🔍 The Importance of Early Detection
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Known diabetes significantly raises the risk of severe DR.
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Detecting DR early can prevent progression to blindness.
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Cataracts may mask DR signs, so comprehensive eye exams are crucial.
🛠 Screening in Resource-Limited Settings
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Hand-held fundus cameras make screening possible even in rural areas.
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Standardization challenges: Different grading systems make nationwide uniformity difficult.
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Non-ophthalmologists can be trained to grade DR using specific protocols, helping expand outreach.
🤖 The Future: Artificial Intelligence in Screening
AI-powered retinal imaging offers hope for cost-effective, accurate, and scalable DR screening, especially in low-resource settings.
✅ Key Takeaways for Prevention
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Annual eye check-ups for all diabetics—even without vision symptoms.
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Tight blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control.
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Address cataracts promptly to enable accurate retinal evaluation.
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Support national initiatives to develop a uniform DR screening protocol.
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