GUWAHATI, Sept 3 - Blindness due to diabetes (DM) related eye diseases is progressively increasing in the country including the Northeastern region. The main reason of such blindness is Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). But both diabetes and DR are preventable or at least onset of the disease can be deferred.
Daily exercise, healthy food, maintenance of normal body mass index, medication and a healthy life style can prevent DM and DR, according to a press release by Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya (SSN).
Institute of Community Ophthalmology of SSN regularly conducts public awareness and DR screening programme. The Institute conducted one such programme in Shillong Civil Hospital on August 29 in collaboration with Meghalaya State Blindness Control Society, Rotary International and Meghalaya Diabetes Society.
Doctors and paramedical team from SSN was led by Dr Harsha Bhattacharjee. A large number of patients availed the opportunity of free blood and retina examination. The team found that incidence of DR amongst the diabetic patients was quite high, the release said.
