85 percent of the diabetics studied are aware of the risk that the disease is for their eyes.Therefore, ocular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (first cause of irreversible blindness in working age in industrialized society) are the ones that most concern this group (40%), well above cardiovascular disease (17%), theAmputation (16%), kidney (13%) problems or nervous system damage (4%).
As can be seen from the barometer, still 2 out of every 3 patients go to the ophthalmologist when the damage has already occurred."Diabetic retinopathy does not usually give symptoms in the early stages, although it can become devastating for vision," IMO specialists reported.That is why they recommend the sick to submit by routine to a background test once a year to detect the appearance of complications early.
A proper monitoring of ocular health, together with good metabolic control and healthy lifestyle habits, is essential to reduce the risk of severe loss of vision of this group.
The study, promoted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the International Federation of Aging (IFA) and the International Agency for the Prevention of blindness (IAPB) has had the support of Bayer and the participation of 3,500 patients and 1,400health professionals from fifty countries.
To raise awareness about this problem, as it did last year, the IMO Foundation will offer free opometric and ophthalmological explorations to the 'Experience Day Diabetes' who wish.
In 2015, this initiative allowed to diagnose mild or moderate diabetic retinopathy to 13 percent of the people reviewed, a figure to take into account despite the fact that, according to ophthalmologists of the Retina and Vitreous Department of the Institute, "the general percentage is usuallyMuch greater among the population with diabetes, placing about 90 percent after the diagnosis of the disease if the aforementioned preventive measures are not taken. "
