Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is recognized as a primary cause of vision loss globally for which demographic?
Working-age adults
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a serious complication stemming from diabetes mellitus, a systemic disease, where prolonged high blood sugar damages the minute blood vessels that feed the retina. This damage can lead to vessel weakening, swelling, fluid leakage, or total occlusion, resulting in impaired vision or outright blindness. The significance of DR lies in the demographic it disproportionately affects: it is a primary driver of vision loss among working-age adults globally. This highlights a major economic and social burden, as it strikes individuals during their most productive years, in contrast to conditions like cataracts which are more age-associated. Proactive management involving strict blood sugar control is vital for mitigation.
