The diabetic retinopathy guidelines are an initiative to combat diabetes-related vision loss, which if detected on time, is preventable
With over 101 million people with diabetes in India, the country has emerged as the diabetes capital of the world. As a result, a simultaneous and sharp rise has been observed in the prevalence of diabetes-related preventable vision loss.A diabetologist plays an important role in timely screening for diabetic retinopathy and referring to an ophthalmologist for its management. Vitreo Retinal Society of India (VRSI) and Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) collaborated to formulate first-of-its-kind Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Guidelines, which will help every physician and diabetologist in India to educate their patients regarding diabetic retinopathy.
Dr Prashant Bawankule, Vitreoretinal surgeon Sarakshi Netralaya Chairman, Academic & Research Committee All India Ophthalmological Society, Nagpur, “With more than 70 million Diabetes in India, Diabetes has become a major challenge to our country. One in five diabetic is likely to have affection of their retina called as Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). DR is a silent disease in initial stages & that is the reason why it remains undiagnosed till advance retinal damage occurs & thereby leaving permanent vision damage in late stages. Government of India has integrated Diabetic Retinopathy screening in its initiative of Ayushman Bharat to facilitate early detection of DR & thereby prevent its morbidity. Now it is the need of hour to have a collaborative effort amongst healthcare professionals like physician, diabetologist, ophthalmologist to come together to reinforce this guideline in the comprehensive DM management & thereby prevent vision impairment.”
Owing to lifestyle modifications, migration to cities, obesity, and stress, there has been an increase in the number of diabetes patients in the country, parallelly increasing the number of diabetes related vision loss cases. Type -2 diabetes is common amongst the working-age population, impacting their physical and mental health. This condition if not screened timely can become the leading cause of blindness in India, causing a huge economic burden. With a national prevalence of 12.5% of diabetic retinopathy and 4% of vision-threatening ‘Diabetic Retinopathy’, approximately 3 million Indians are at a risk of vision loss. This highlights the critical need for timely screening of every patient with diabetes to prevent an irreversible loss of vision, which goes undetected in its early stage and is thus aptly known as a ‘silent thief of sight.’
The guidelines empower healthcare professionals—often the first point of contact for those living with diabetes—with the tools and knowledge necessary to promote early detection and intervention, ultimately reducing the risk of severe vision impairment and blindness caused due to diabetic retinopathy.
Table 1: Diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines[1] for Physicians in India: position statement by the Vitreoretinal Society of India (VRSI) and the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI)
Published in the renowned International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries, the guidelines serve as a comprehensive reckoner and mark a crucial milestone in India’s journey to advancing diabetes management and screening for diabetic retinopathy effectively.
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