“The majority of people do not have any idea on the signs and symptoms associated with diabetic retinopathy,” said Ray Man, the PA to Mahi Muqit, a leading ophthalmologist in London, United Kingdom.

There are more than three million people in England and Wales that have been registered with diabetes between 2018 and 2019, which is seven percent of the UK population. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and a common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age in the United Kingdom.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of new blindness cases in younger adults, aged from twenty years to seventy-four years of age. Patients with type one diabetes are likely to develop diabetic retinopathy within their first two decades of living with the disease, while less than sixty percent of those with type two diabetes may get the disease. More than three percent of the patients with long-term type one diabetes were legally blind, along with just over one percent of those with type two diabetes. One-third of legal blindness cases in long-term diabetic patients are due to diabetic retinopathy.

Blindness can be prevented in those with diabetic retinopathy with early identification and treatment. Many diabetic patients don't know that high cholesterol and high blood pressure are also contributing factors to diabetic retinopathy.

Ray Man, the PA to Mahi Muqit, a leading ophthalmologist in London, said “Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include having diabetes for a long period to poor control of blood sugar levels high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney damage, and pregnancy. Symptoms range from blurred and distorted vision to spots in your vision and difficulty reading to eye pressure, shadows in your field of vision, and problems identifying colours.”

Diabetics can protect their vision by attending annual eye exams, controlling their blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and maintaining a healthy weight. They must also take their medications as prescribed, stay active and stop smoking.

Mahi Muqit, the leading ophthalmologist in London, is passionate about diabetic retinopathy and has travelled extensively as a volunteer consultant, educating medical teams on this eye condition, the symptoms, and how to manage and treat it.

About Us: Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract, and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eyesight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina, and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons, and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com.