Campaign against diabetic blindness launched in Vadodara

VADODARA: The Gujarat State Branch Indian Medical Association launched its ‘Preventing Diabetic Blindness’ campaign. The campaign is a part of the national initiative taken up by the New Delhi headquarters of the Indian Medical Association.
The association will undertake many awareness camps across the city under the campaign to promote a society attuned to the severe effects of diabetes and how they can be prevented.
“Diabetes is a disease that can cause damage to inner lining of blood vessels and capillaries leading to impaired blood circulation in vital organs of many systems. It can damage the body in multiple ways by affecting organs like the heart, brain, eyes, kidneys, legs, teeth and gums,” said Dr Paresh Majmudar, member and former president of Indian Medical Association – Vadodara.
After a period of time from the onset of diabetes, it causes damage to the retina of the eyes which is called diabetic retinopathy. “The timing depends on duration of diabetes, level of control and presence of hypertension. It may be present at the time of diagnosis of diabetes or may occur years later,” he added.
The fact that the loss of vision is over a long period of time, it goes unnoticed if the diabetic undergoes check-up for retinopathy by an eye doctor at the time of diagnosis of diabetes and regular review once every two years.
“Only awareness can help the patients since the damage can be prevented successfully,” Majmudar said.