Uncontrolled diabetes robbing people of their eye sight

At least one in four diabetic patients in Bangladesh suffer from failing eyesight and could totally lose it, the ORBIS Regional Director for Asia says.

"It's a conservative estimate," Abu Raihan told bdnews24.com Monday, analysing global and regional trends of the diabetic retinopathy and the rise in Bangladesh's diabetic population.

He suggested an universal eye care system in which a person's eyes would be checked-up as soon as he was diagnosed with diabetes.

Uncontrolled blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels of the retina, leading to leakages from blood vessels.

That condition is called diabetic retinopathy. It often occurs before a person becomes aware of it.

Delayed diagnosis and uncontrolled diabetes could lead to total loss of eyesight.

Raihan who oversees ORBIS International's programme in the Asia region that covers countries like China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia came to Dhaka to attend a seminar on eye care. Globally 382 million people were diabetic last year.