Diabetic retinopathy a leading cause of blindness
Around 1.8 million people in the country suffer from some form of diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness if diabetes is not controlled properly, said experts. More than 5.6 million people are diabetic, but half of them do not even know the status of their disease. Even more alarming is that over one lakh people suffering from diabetes die every year in the country, they said.
At the global level, 387 million people (one in 12 persons) suffer from diabetes. This number is expected to increase to 592 million by 2035 with the rapid spread of the diabetes in South Asia. According to experts, 77 per cent of diabetic patients live in low and middle income countries.
International and national experts shared the evidence-based information with health professionals and other stakeholders at the Dissemination Summit and Strategic Workshop on Diabetic Retinopathy that was jointly organised by the Helen Keller International (HKI) Bangladesh and the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH) at the Krishibid Institute in the capital on Wednesday.
The summit focused on a programme called Scaling up Diabetic Retinopathy Services in Bangladesh. The panellists discussed the emergence of diabetic retinopathy as a major public health concern.
The panel included international experts such as Prof. Emeritus Dr PN Nagpal of Retina Foundation, Ahmedabad, India, Dr. Mahi Muqit of the Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK and Dr. Nicholas Kourgialis, Vice-President, Eye Health at the Helen Keller International,USA. Dr Meredith Jackson de Graffenried, Country Director, HKI, Bangladesh and Prof Arif Miah, Director, NIOH, delivered the inaugural speech.
Dr. Nagpal said that diabetic retinopathy poses a tremendous challenge as the number of patients suffering from it is increasing. He said that dissemination of information can be a big tool to raise awareness among people. If you have diabetes, there might be a chance of diabetic retinopathy, leading to blindness, said Dr. Nagpal.
Prof. Arif Miah said, Diabetic retinopathy is an emerging problem for Bangladesh and a silent killer because its difficult to know when it will begin. And, the lack of awareness about diabetes only compounds the problem. If diabetic retinopathy is not detected at an early stage, its difficult to combat it.
Dr. Meredith Jackson de Graffenried said, Most people think that diabetes is a disease of the affluent classes. The fact is that 80 percent of those suffering from it live in low and middle-income countries.
She added that though the screening process for diabetic retinopathy is not available in remote parts of the country, at least physicians should tell diabetic patients to control it since it will also help to control retinopathy.
Dr. Niaz Abdur Rahman of Bangladesh Eye Care said, Bangladesh is ill-equipped to screen patients for diabetic retinopathy.
Yet, early detection, treatment and regular follow-up are necessary to control the disease.
Generally diabetic patients do not go for eye test, because most of them dont know about diabetic retinopathy. The physicians should tell the patients to go for a screening test, he added.
He underscored the need for building awareness about diabetic retinopathy for better management of the disease.
Dr. Kousik Chowhdury in his presentation showcased Laser treatment, while Dr. Shah-Noor Hassan talked about treatment using medicines. Dr. Nazmun Nahar showed how surgery could be used for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and Dr. Ansarul Huq, Chief Consultant of Labaid Eye Centre talked about how lifestyle and food habits are responsible for diabetes.
