Ludhiana, November 16, 2023 (News Team): In observance of National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, ZEISS Group in India, with its Medical Technology (MED) Division takes a proactive role in combating the rising issues of diabetic eye diseases. With10.1 crore cases as reported by the Indian Council of Medical Research – India Diabetes (ICMR INDIAB) study in 2023, India is at the forefront of diabetes, globally. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR),a complication of diabetes, is a leading cause of vision loss.
Approximately one in five individuals with diabetes have some degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, affecting 13 million people in India and 6.5 million people face the vision-threatening form of DR (source: Research Gate).These statistics highlight the urgency for advanced technology to diagnose and manage DR effectively.
Dr. Abhinav Dhami from Dhami Eye Hospital, Ludhiana says, “As an ophthalmologist, I am deeply concerned about the alarming rise in Diabetic Retinopathy cases in our country. This silent epidemic threatens the vision and quality of life of millions of our citizens. In this critical scenario, Medical Technology from ZEISS has emerged as a pioneer in advanced diagnostic and imaging technologies, empowering the ophthalmologist community to detect diabetic retinopathy in its early stages. The innovative tech-advanced solutions from ZEISS not only enable us to provide timely intervention and treatment but also ensure the best patient experience and outcome. ZEISS has become an invaluable partner in our battle against this growing healthcare challenge.”
ZEISS Medical Technology Division has been committed to addressing the issue of Diabetic Retinopathy and ensuring the well-being of individuals living with diabetes through cutting-edge technology. The ZEISS Retina Workflow plays a pivotal role in early detection and monitoring, comprising four key steps: Assess and Educate, Plan, Treat, and Check.
- Assess and Educate Stage: Involves comprehensive examinations with ZEISS Slit Lamps, ZEISS CIRRUS OCT and ZEISS CLARUSwidefield fundus camera providing essential diagnostic insights. While a Slit Lamp is not a primary tool for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, it is a valuable part of the comprehensive eye examination.
- Planning Stage: ZEISS enables the linking of high-resolution OCT and ultra-wide field images and data through a smart software solution called the ZEISS Retina Workplace to make better-informed decisions and create an effective treatment plan for the patient.
- Treatment Stage: ZEISS ARTEVO 800 is the first digital microscope that provides high-quality high-precision images of retinal structures for the effective treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Further, the ZEISS VISULAS Green Therapeutic Laser System is a significant advancement in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy as it offers precise and controlled laser delivery, which is essential for retinal laser procedures.
- Check Stage: Checking the effectiveness of the treatment is also important in disease management. ZEISS Retina Workplace enables ophthalmologists to record treatment decisions over time to help assess treatment effectiveness. It allows easy and seamless integration of multimodal imaging data and compares structural changes over time with one click.
Carl Zeiss India's Medical Technology Division reaffirms its commitment to battling Diabetic Retinopathy and reducing the burden of vision loss among individuals living with diabetes. The future of diabetic retinopathy management is not only reliant on groundbreaking technology but also on the relentless dedication of healthcare professionals.