Study Uncovers New Approach to Treat Patients with Diabetic Eye Disease
A new study Diabetologia recently published shows the results of the largest clinical test for diabetic retinopathy. Specifically, the research underscores a new method that could "transform diabetic eye screening around the world" that has substantial saving in cost for the National Health Service.
According to reports, the number of people who live with diabetes globally is more than 460 million and is likely to increase to more than 700 million in the next three decades-and-a-half.
Experts in the field say diabetes affects the eye by impairing the blood vessels in the retina, also known as "diabetic retinopathy."
Furthermore, the study findings also specify, the high blood sugar is causing the fine blood vessels in the retina "to leak fluid-causing waterlogging or close" that leads the retina to become "starved of oxygen."
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Research underscores a new method that could ‘transform diabetic eye screening around the world’ that has a substantial saving in cost too, for the National Health Service.
'Diabetic Retinopathy'
Diabetic retinopathy or DR is one of the most typical reasons for visual loss worldwide and can be avoided detected early.
An individual who has DR is not aware of the condition until loss of vision is so reduced that he notices a stage when the impairment is when impairment is frequently irreversible.
To address the problem, immediate laser treatment, injections of the medicine into the eye, or complex eye operation are needed to limit the impairment.
The United Kingdom is at the forefront of screening for diabetic retinopathy. Patients with retinal photographs taken, showing early retinopathy stages, and if present, are referred for close observing and, or treatment before vision gets affected.
Liverpool has been leading the study into screening since the early 90s, and many of the approaches used for screening globally have also been developed here.
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Large Study of Over 4,500 Patients
In an effort to enhance DR screening, researchers led by Clinical Ophthalmology clinical professor and University of Liverpool's Department of Eye and Vision Science professor Simon Harding, and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Eye and Vision Science, Dr. Deborah Broadbent conducted the research to determine if a personalized or individualized approach to screening was more beneficial compared to the established annual screening method.
The study, which the author titled as "Individualized Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy," or ISDR, studied over 4,500 patients over seven years, making it "the largest trial of its kind."
Patients signed up for the research were either included in a control group or a personalized or individualized approach group.
Specifically, patients from the control group continued having their eyes screened each year for early detection of changes of DR, the current method in most countries.
Meanwhile, according to research, the individualized group went through a new, innovative screening procedure in which the time between each episode of screening varied according to the amount of retinopathy and "the level of control of blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure."
By incorporating all the essential factors mentioned, the Liverpool system computes the risk for each person through the use of their own health information, the "individualized" method.
Participants of the study were given six-month appointments if they were categorized as at a great risk of developing sight-threatening illness, a 12-month appointment for those at medium risk, and 24 months for patients at low risk.
Study Findings
The seven-year research found that 81.9 percent of patients under the individualized group were believed to be at low risk and thus did not need a yearly screening.
Meaning, they only need to attend an appointment with the NHS every two years, which saves them time off work, costs for travel, and inconvenience.
The ISDR study was subsidized by the National Institute for Health Research or the NIHR, the NHS Research and Development arm. It was hosted by Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, St. Paul's Eye Unit, and the University of Liverpool.
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Nov 07, 2020 07:00 PM EST
