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Vision loss caused by diabetes is increasingly affecting younger Indians. Experts warn that low awareness, delayed screening for diabetic retinopathy are putting millions at risk
Vision loss due to diabetes: Early detection allows doctors to identify retinal changes and begin treatment before permanent damage occurs.
Vision loss caused by diabetes is emerging as a serious and growing public health concern in India, and what is particularly alarming is that it is increasingly affecting younger, working-age individuals.
“Vision loss caused by diabetes is emerging as a serious and growing public health challenge in India,” says Dr Mahesh G, Senior Consultant and Head of Vitreo Retina, Giridhar Eye Institute, Kochi, and General Secretary of the Vitreo Retina Society of India (VRSI). “What is especially concerning is that it is now affecting younger, working-age individuals much more frequently.”
India currently has more than 101 million adults living with diabetes, with an additional 136 million people classified as prediabetic. If current trends continue, the number of people with diabetes in the country could cross 130 million by 2045.
“With diabetes rising at such a massive scale, complications associated with it, including vision loss are also becoming increasingly common,” explains Dr Mahesh.
One of the most serious eye conditions linked to diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a disease in which persistently high blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina.
“What makes diabetic retinopathy particularly dangerous is that it often develops silently,” says Dr Mahesh. “In the early stages, patients usually experience no pain or noticeable changes in their vision, which means many people remain unaware that their eyesight is gradually being affected.”
A major concern is the lack of awareness around this condition.
“Studies suggest that nearly 85% of people living with diabetes are unaware that the disease can affect their vision and have never undergone a retinal examination,” Dr Mahesh notes. “Because of this, many patients are diagnosed only at a later stage, when the disease has already progressed.”
By the time diabetic retinopathy is detected, the damage can already be significant. According to research, nearly 45% of patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy have already experienced some degree of vision loss.
However, experts stress that much of this vision loss is preventable with timely intervention.
“The good news is that vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy is largely preventable if the condition is detected early,” Dr Mahesh says. “Regular screening is crucial. Every person living with diabetes, regardless of how well their blood sugar is controlled should undergo a comprehensive retinal examination at least once every year.”
Early detection allows doctors to identify retinal changes and begin treatment before permanent damage occurs.
“As diabetes continues to rise in India, improving awareness about diabetic retinopathy and prioritising routine eye screening will be essential to protecting the vision and quality of life of millions of people,” adds Dr Mahesh.
March 16, 2026, 09:50 IST
