Report: Diabetes sufferers prone to vision loss

People suffering from diabetes are more likely to suffer vision loss, a report has claimed.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology today found that an estimated 11 per cent of American adults with diabetes had some form of visual impairment, while only 5.9 per cent of whose people without diabetes suffered from the problem.

“People with diabetes were more likely to have uncorrectable vision impairment than those without diabetes, even after controlling for selected other factors,” the authors of the report write.

“Our findings also suggest a strong association between visual impairment (correctable and uncorrectable) and older age, member of racial/ethnic minorities, lower income and lack of health insurance, all independent of diabetes status.”

The report calls for diverse public health strategies to help reduce the burden of both correctable and uncorrectable visual impairment.

“It is important to identify and pursue ways to increase access to eye care for everyone and to correct visual impairment, where possible, to diminish morbidity and mortality due to impaired vision,” the authors conclude.