Experts warn of rising diabetes-linked blindness

RAWALPINDI:

Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has raised serious concerns over the rising threat of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) in Pakistan, linking it to the country's alarming surge in diabetes cases — now reportedly the highest in the world.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Dr Nadeem Qureshi, Head of the Retina Department at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, warned that the increasing diabetes prevalence is fuelling a parallel spike in vision-threatening complications, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.

"Prolonged uncontrolled blood sugar damages the retinal blood vessels and, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible vision loss," he said. He emphasized that early detection and routine screening are critical in preventing vision impairment.