Regular check-ups are crucial to cut diabetic eye complications, says a UAE eye specialist.

This is particularly important in view of the increase in diabetes cases in the country, stresses Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai’s chief executive and medical director Dr Chris Canning.

If left undetected, diabetes retinopathy can lead to vision loss and blindness, Dr Canning, who is also consultant ophthalmologist/vitreoretinal surgeon at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, said.

Dr Canning said that eye disease in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients could lead to total vision loss. However, this can be prevented in 90 per cent of the cases if diabetes and retinopathy are diagnosed early, he said.

More than 19.5pc of the UAE population is said to be living with diabetes.

“Diabetic retinopathy is a relatively common complication in individuals with diabetes, although very often the patient will be unaware of the risks. Hence regular checkups with an eye specialist are essential,” he said at a special media briefing at Imperial College centre.

Dr Canning said retinopathy affects more than 2.5 million people worldwide and is found to be prevalent in 21pc of type 2 Diabetes patients and almost everyone with type 1 diabetes.

“In a nutshell, anyone living with diabetes is at risk of developing some degree of impairment to vision.”

Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, who is consultant endocrinologist and medical and research director at the college centre, also stressed the benefits of early detection
She also said early detection of pre-diabetes can lead to the prevention of full blown diabetes, and so greatly reduce the risk of related complications, such as blindness. – Trade Arabia News Service