Kathmandu, November 13: Due to unhealthy lifestyle, the number of diabetics is increasing. Doctors have said that there is a risk of ‘diabetic retinopathy’ in one of the non-communicable diseases. Diabetic retinopathy is a problem of the retina. According to Dr. Raba Thapa, Retina Specialist of Tilganga Eye Institute, Diabetic Retinopathy is the effect on the retina due to diabetes.
She says, “When the amount of sugar in the blood is high, it affects the blood vessels of the eye membrane, and then there is a risk of bleeding, mucus coming out of the eye membrane, blood clots, blood circulation, and if the treatment is not done in time, there is a risk of losing sight forever.” As the viscosity increases with the amount of sugar in the blood for a long period of time, it affects the small blood vessels of the retina. He says that when fat, blood and fluid leak from the blood vessels, the retina becomes swollen and the vision becomes blurred and the retina shrinks and the vision can be lost.
According to the International Diabetes Association, 10.5 percent of adults aged 20 to 79 worldwide have diabetes and only half of them are aware of it.
According to the doctor, this problem can show symptoms such as black spots in front of the eyes, shadows, vision loss, and blurred vision.
According to the World Health Organization, diabetes can be prevented and prevented if you eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and do not consume tobacco products. Diabetic specialist Dr. Deepak Malla says that all patients with diabetes should undergo an eye examination. He says, “If the problem of diabetic retinopathy has already occurred, it should be checked in six months. If you have diabetes, you should be checked once a year.” Symptoms of diabetes include weight loss, retention of thirst, retention of hunger, blurred vision, and retention of urine. According to Dr. Malla, if such symptoms are observed, the sugar should be checked.
“Some patients who come to the OPD come with problems related to eyes, kidneys and feet. This is a delayed state. Therefore, these problems can be avoided if regular sugar check, keeping sugar under control and following up according to doctor’s advice”, says Dr. Malla. A country-wide study conducted by the Nepal Health Research Council in 2019 on the ‘burden of population-based non-communicable diseases’ has shown that the problem of diabetes is 8.5 percent. This study estimated that about 1 million people have diabetes.
According to Dr. Thapa, about one-third of diabetic patients have diabetic retinopathy, and one-third of patients need immediate treatment. He says that within 20 years of a person having diabetes, about 99 percent of those who develop type 1 diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy. In addition, in the second type of diabetes, two-thirds of patients have diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Thapa says, “If there is high blood pressure, uncontrolled sugar, high fat content in the blood, diabetic retinopathy can be seen 20 years before the onset of diabetes. Retinopathy is seen more quickly in smokers, anemic people, and even in pregnancy.
Most of them arrive late at the hospital because they are not aware that eye examination should be done after diabetes. Out of 100 people who come to OPD daily at Tilganga Eye Institute, on an average 50 people have this type of symptoms. “Especially in young people who are going to work abroad, diabetic retinopathy is coming at a late stage. It seems that complications have arisen because diabetes is checked but the eyes are not properly checked”, said Dr. Thapa.
Tilganga Eye Foundation is celebrating ‘Diabetic Retinopathy Day’ like last year to raise public awareness about this. The hospital has provided free registration services to diabetic patients from 8 to 14 of November, and has provided discounts on treatment expenses for poor patients.
