Critical Review of Public Health Interventions in Diabetic Retinopathy: Challenges for Karnataka.

ABSTRACT

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), and its prevention is related to the duration as well as control of DM. The prevalence of diabetes has reached a pandemic proportion which is mostly attributed to rapid lifestyle transitions and by a narrowing in the urban-rural divide in living conditions. In another 15 years, nearly one-fifth of the world’s diabetic population will be in India. This will increase the prevalence of DR-related eye disease that can potentially cause blindness in younger people. Since DM and DR is a public health problem, its management requires public health approaches. This article reviews the various challenges in implementing public health interventions in preventing DR-related blindness.