Rising diabetes threatens vision loss

By: Natasha Archary

diabetes vision loss — Image: Myriam Zilles Unsplash

Rising diabetes in South Africa is threatening vision loss, with diabetic eye complications on the rise.

With 24 September being World Retina Day, the International Diabetes Federation says more than 4.4 million people between the ages of 20 and 79 are living with diabetes in the country.

This number is expected to rise to 6.3 million by 2045 if effective interventions are not taken.

Professor Linda Visser, Board Member of the Opthalmological Society of South Africa (OSSA) says diabetes brings many complications including vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the serious consequences of diabetes, and is the 4th leading cause of blindness.

It is also the most common cause of visual loss amongst working-age individuals in SA.

“Diabetes is regarded as one of the costliest health problems in the world and poses a socio-economic burden on the country. Costs include the direct costs of medical care, and indirect costs of loss in productivity due to the inability to work.

Sickness, absence, vision loss, disability, premature retirement and premature death, as well as intangible costs such as the physical and psychological pain or suffering.

We need a concerted effort from government and primary health care structures to raise awareness of the problem and promote lifestyle modification, healthy eating habits and exercise, specifically targeting children and young adults. This awareness should include the need for regular screening in order to detect diabetes as early as possible.”

Prof Visser says diabetic retinopathy damage is often permanent or only partly reversible and therefore more urgent to treat timeously.

Treatment options include, depending on the advanced stage of vision loss, laser therapy, intravitreal injections and surgery.

Prof Visser urges South Africans to start looking after their health to prevent diabetes in the first place. She recommends:

Reducing weight,
Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes a day such as walking, gardening or more advanced such as going to the gym,
Limiting alcohol consumption,
Stopping smoking,
Adding more fruit and vegetables and whole grains into one’s diet,
Avoiding sugary drinks and food, as well as processed foods
Yearly examination to screen for diabetes.

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