National Eye Centre Records 941 Diabetic Retinopathy Cases

The National Eye Centre, Kaduna, has recorded 941 cases of diabetic retinopathy between 2021 and July 2026.

It raised concerns over the growing burden of diabetes-related eye complications and the need for early detection and treatment.

The chief medical director of the centre, Dr Amina Hassan Wali, disclosed this in an interview with LEADERSHIP.

He said the patients received different forms of treatment, including medication, injections, laser therapy and surgery, depending on the severity of their conditions.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. If left untreated, it can lead to severe visual impairment.

Wali said the condition could progress without obvious symptoms in its early stages, making regular eye examinations essential for people living with diabetes.

She explained that prolonged poor blood sugar control could damage the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, urging people diagnosed with diabetes to undergo regular eye screening for early detection of complications.

The CMD also disclosed that a study conducted between 2019 and 2021 involving 2,000 patients found that 20 per cent, representing about 400 people, had diabetes.

She said some patients were diagnosed during routine medical assessments, while others were found to have the condition after presenting with eye problems that prompted further investigations.

Wali identified the high cost of specialised equipment, maintenance and imported medical consumables as major challenges in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

She said the centre had two trained retinal surgeons providing medical and surgical care but noted that the number of patients requiring treatment remained overwhelming.

Wali urged the Federal Government to train more retinal surgeons, provide specialised equipment and strengthen diabetic eye screening at secondary healthcare facilities.

The CMD also advised Nigerians to maintain healthy diets, exercise regularly and undergo diabetes screening, particularly those with a family history of the condition.

She warned against the unsupervised use of steroids, saying some people used steroid-containing medicines and creams to gain weight or achieve a fuller appearance without understanding the potential health risks.

Wali said steroid misuse could contribute to complications, including elevated blood sugar and hypertension, and called for stricter monitoring of the sale and use of such products.

She also urged authorities to intensify public awareness campaigns on diabetes, improve access to quality medicines and strengthen efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit drugs.

She advised people living with diabetes to maintain good blood sugar control and undergo regular eye examinations to ensure that complications were detected and treated early.