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Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness among adults worldwide.[iStockphoto]
For many Kenyans living with diabetes, the greatest fear is often managing blood sugar levels, avoiding complications such as kidney disease, or preventing heart problems. Yet hidden among these well-known dangers is a sight-threatening condition that can silently damage the eyes long before symptoms appear.
Known as diabetic retinopathy, the condition is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness among adults worldwide and is increasingly becoming a public health concern as diabetes cases continue to rise in Kenya.
According to Dr Monika Bitok, Acting Head of the Eye Health Section at the Ministry of Health, diabetic retinopathy develops when persistently high blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, the light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye.
