New study in Nepal highlights critical gaps in diabetic retinopathy screening
Nepal’s aging population faces a mounting threat of preventable vision loss, as a new national survey reveals widespread gaps in diabetic retinopathy screening.
Key Findings:
- A population-based survey of adults aged 50 and above found a diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence of 6.1%. Among those diagnosed with diabetes, 14.40% had some form of retinopathy.
- Bagmati province reported the highest DM prevalence at 9.4%. Among diabetic patients in Bagmati province, 15.9% were found to have diabetic retinopathy (DR), and 2.5% had sight-threatening DR — a subset at high risk of irreversible vision loss if left untreated.
- 30.8% of known diabetics have never undergone an eye examination. The gap was most severe in Karnali province, where 75.6% of diabetic patients had never had an eye check.
Reference: Shah R, Mishra SK, Sapkota YD, et al. Prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy among adults aged 50 years and above in Nepal: a population-based cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open Ophthalmol. 2025;10(1):e002191. Published 2025 Jun 20.
