Diabetes Patients Urged to Undergo Regular Eye Checks to Prevent Permanent Blindness

Professor Muhammad Bayu Sasongko, an ophthalmology expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), has called on the public to stop normalising blurred vision as an inevitable consequence of ageing or diabetes. Speaking at a health forum in Jakarta, he warned that this misconception often causes patients to delay medical examinations, leading to complications and permanent blindness. He stressed that diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication of diabetes mellitus, can be prevented if patients undergo regular early detection and receive appropriate medical treatment from the onset of symptoms. Data from the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) indicates that the prevalence of diabetes in the country continues to rise, with an estimated one in ten people currently living with the condition. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has also recorded that the number of diabetes sufferers in Indonesia has surpassed 20 million and is projected to increase to 30 million by 2045. Allowing complications to progress not only drastically reduces a patient’s quality of life but also imposes psychological and financial burdens on families. Patients who lose their sight lose their independence and access to essential information, given that 85 percent of human sensory information is captured visually. Through widespread education, it is hoped that people with diabetes will become more proactive in having their eye health checked, as regular screening is key to avoiding the risk of blindness that can destroy productivity and future prospects.