Although 23% of diabetes patients will develop diabetic retinopathy (one of the main cause of blindness) five years after diagnosis only between 20 and 30% of diabetics undergoes an annual revision of retina to detect signs ofRetinopathy, according to data provided by the Spanish Diabetes Federation (Fede).
Normal vision and vision with diabetic retinopathy
The figures indicate that 23% of diabetes patients will develop this pathology 5 years after diagnosis, 60% will suffer from 10 years and 80% at 15 years.In addition, more than half of the blind by diabetes had never attended the ophthalmologist.
In Spain, more than 1,000,000 people with diabetes (about 6,000,000 suffer from this pathology) have vision problems, most from diabetic retinopathy, one of the most common complications of diabetes.
Aware of this, the Spanish Diabetes Federation (FEDE) joins the celebration of the 2017 year of the retina, an initiative launched by the Retinaplus+Foundation, which groups the medical professionals specialists in ophthalmology and retina experts throughout Spain.
As Marta Figueroa, president of the Retinaplus+Foundation, states, the objective of this initiative is “to raise both the medical community and public administrations and society in general, of the importance of a diagnosis and early treatment of diseases of diseases ofThe retina in order to reduce the prevalence of avoidable blindness in our country. ”
All this with an eye on reducing the prevalence of blindness in Spain through a better knowledge of retinal diseases by the population and multidisciplinary and coordinated attention by the different specialties.Macular degeneration is the most frequent cause of blindness in patients over 50 years and diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of blindness in working age.
From Fede, prevention is called as the main weapon against these serious complications since it must be taken into account that about 80% of all visual disabilities can be prevented, treating and even healing.Some data that in the specific case of diabetes can be avoided or delayed by training and education that allow the patient to properly control their pathology.
In this sense, Andoni Lorenzo, president of this Federation, affects the need to “raise social awareness about this usual complication and that diabetes prevention is our priority.The lack of training and education in diabetes is certified by figures such as more than 50% of blind people for diabetes had never gone to the ophthalmologist, when the usual thing is that at least one review per year be carried out.It should be remembered that in the case of people with diabetes the risk of blindness is 10 times greater than in a person without this ailment. ”
In this sense, it is essential to become aware that early detection and proper treatment can prevent loss of vision and reduce the impact of diabetes both in patients and society.From Fede is firmly committed to diabetological training and education, not only to patients but to the general population, to achieve an early diagnosis, something key issue to avoid complications as serious as those linked to vision.
