Diabetes-linked vision loss fear looms large, experts seek Ayushman care

AS India is dubbed the diabetic capital of the world, there is a growing concern that diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes, will increase in the next two decades in the country.

- KAVITA BAJELI-DATT @ New Delhi

With approximately 1 in 3 people with diabetes said to develop diabetic retinopathy (DR), which usually impacts visual impairment in the working age group, and 10% of vision-threatening Diabetic Macular Edema, experts said there is an urgent need for the union government to include its treatments under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (Ab-PM-JAY).

Speaking with this paper, Dr Rupak Kanti Biswas, Director and Consultant VR surgeon at Netralayam Eye Hospital, Kolkata, said that if a person has had type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, then 70% of those individuals will be affected by diabetic retinopathy.