Diabetes eye care II

Objectives

One of the significant complications of diabetes is blindness. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of blindness in the world. Twenty years ago, it was number 17 on the causes of blindness in India. Today it is number 6.

Early detection and timely treatment significantly reduce the risk of vision loss. However, access to specialist help is minimal, especially in more remote areas.

The project seeks to reduce blindness resulting from diabetes and to raise public awareness of prevention, symptoms and complications of diabetes.

The project builds on the already ongoing WDF-funded project WDF02-039.

Approach

The project builds on the experience gained while implementing the ongoing first phase of WDF02-039, the "Diabetes eye care project" with Aravind Eye Hospitals.

The project's first phase focuses on Madurai, Theni, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli districts.

This project seeks to expand the services and activities to Pondicherry Union State, Cuddalore, and Villupuram districts in Tamil Nadu, covering just over 6 million people.

The project takes a four-pronged approach, focusing on awareness creation, community outreach, screening and tertiary care.

Awareness will be raised via the media, through distributing relevant educational materials to medical professionals and the general public, and through seminars, workshops and community health education programmes.

As part of the community outreach, a total of 36 camps focusing on diabetes detection and screening for retinopathy will be held. Around 100,000 people will be screened for diabetes at these camps and Aravind's routine cataract screening camps. The camps are held in close collaboration with voluntary and community organisations.

Patients will be referred for tertiary care such as laser photocoagulation, surgery and follow-up as required, regardless of ability to pay. The Aravind Eye Hospitals provide free eye care to those patients who cannot afford treatment from revenue generated by its paying patients. At least 30% of its patients are treated free of charge.

As no epidemiological study on diabetic retinopathy has yet been done in India, the project also includes a study to determine the present magnitude and risk factors for this complication in the Theni district.

A mobile unit stationed at Madurai, which was developed during phase I of the project, will be used for this study.

This is expected to result in a framework for a national plan addressing diabetic retinopathy.

Results at completion

• 101,364 people in the Villupuram, Kudalur, Pondicherry State were screened for diabetes
• Around 10% of the diabetic retinopathy patients in Pondicherry and nearby districts have received treatment in the form of laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy
• 729 general practitioners and medical specialists received training through seminars on the detection and diagnosis of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
• The first epidemiological study on diabetic retinopathy in semi-urban and rural India was conducted