Bengaluru: Type 2 diabetes, the extremely common disease, is yet to get its due attention as many people live with it for a long period of time without being aware of it. The multisystem disorder, triggered by Type 2 Diabetes, not only affects the kidney, lungs and liver, but also the eyes.
Dr B.N. Kalpana, professor and HOD, Vitreoretinal Department, Victoria Hospital, says her department witnesses some 20 cases a day of patients with eye ailments because of diabetes. “Fundus examination is an integral part of the routine ophthalmic examination and if the patient is diabetic, then we suggest that they undergo the retina evaluation or Fundus examination. If we can diagnose it early the treatment becomes better," she says, adding that if patients are 40-45 years old and they have housed diabetes for more than 10 years then an eye screening every year becomes essential.
"Around 20-25% of patients from different sections of society come to us for issues like nerve damage or sometimes kidney and eye problems. On further evaluation, we realise that they have diabetes and these issues are complications because of that condition. If diabetes was diagnosed earlier, our treatment process they could have avoided complications," adds Dr Rajeshwari Janakiraman, Consultant Endocrinologist, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwanthpur.
