It is estimated that within the next 20 years approximately 60 million people living in India will have diabetes.

Diabetic related eye disease, particularly diabetic retinopathy is already one of the major causes of blindness in India and is still on an increase.

Lack of awareness and specialty of care is one of the main reasons for this increased prevalence in diabetic retinopathy.

Objective

To reduce diabetes related blindness in rural Andhra Pradesh.

Approach

The project is implemented in collaboration between the Modern Eye Hospital & Research Centre and the P. O. Ram Charitable Trust. The latter has vast experience in conducting free eye camps.

The objective will be achieved through 3 components, namely creating awareness, organizing screening camps and offering laser treatment and angiography tests.

Awareness creation in the society is targeted at the rural community, students, rural medical doctors and social organisations. The goal of the awareness component is to make the general public aware of the problems regarding diabetes related blindness particularly diabetic retinopathy.

25 awareness programmes are arranged for physicians, general practitioners, ophthalmic assistants and nurses. The focus will be on recent advances in the treatment options of diabetic retinopathy.

In total, 175 awareness programmes will be conducted for social groups. The programmes are held at venues like community halls, religious places and schools. During the programmes pamphlets and brochures will be distributed. The purpose of this is to make people aware of the screening camps and to provide patient education information regarding diabetic retinopathy and its complications.

The awareness programme is followed by a screening camp. The targeted populations are people with or at-risk of retinopathy and all who attend the camps get a comprehensive eye health check-up. In total, it is expected that at least 50,000 people will be screened at the camps during the 2 years. It is estimated that out of these 50,000 people 5,000 will have diabetes and 1,000 may require eye treatment.

All people with detected diabetic retinopathy are transported to the base hospital, where they will receive fluorescein angiography and laser treatment free of cost. Other needed procedures detected at the screening camps will also be provided for free.

Expected impact

• 50,000 people screened for diabetic retinopathy 
• At least 1,000 people receiving free laser treatment 
• 200 awareness programmes in 4 districts for 500 people 
• 100 ophthalmic assistants trained in diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy 
• 500 nurses trained in awareness 

Results at project completion

• 51,415 people have been screened for diabetes. Of these 8,596 had diabetes (8,171 were known cases; 425 were new cases), leading to a total prevalence rate of 16.7%
• Of those screened for diabetes 2,104 had diabetic retinopathy (351 were known cases; 1,753 were new cases), leading to a 24.5% prevalence rate among those diagnosed with diabetes and a 4.1% prevalence rate among the total number of people screened.
• 1,009 people have received free laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
• 508 community screening camps have been conducted and 27 screening camps for diabetic retinopathy.
• 120 awareness programmes have been held for social groups and 13 awareness programmes have been conducted for general practitioners and physicians.
• 123 ophthalmic assistants have been trained in diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
• 463 nurses have been trained in diabetes awareness.
• Awareness programmes have been conducted for 23 general physicians / general practitioners and for 196 social groups.