Diabetes can cause diabetic macular edema (DME), a rapidly spreading disease of the retina, which can also cause blindness in a person. People with diabetes have a 25 percent higher risk of blindness than others.
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day (14 November), Dr. Shashank Rai Gupta, an onthalmologist and eye surgeon at Delhi Eye Care, said, “75 percent of diabetic patients coming to my clinic for eye check-up have had a condition of diabetic retinopathy.
Considering the increasing cases of diabetes and diabetic macular edema (DME), we need a strong approach to identify early stage patients. ”
He said, “Diabetics should be alert to their eyes and have eye examinations done at regular intervals so that eye disease can be detected, especially retinal diseases.”
He said, “Diabetic patients should be very vigilant about their eye health. Those of the retina, in particular, should have their vision checked frequently.
The burden of diabetic macular edema (DME) is increasing and we need to adopt a robust approach to identify patients at an early stage. ”
