Brazilian Ophthalmology Council launches diabetes retinopathy awareness campaign

The Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) has launched the “24 Days for Diabetes” campaign to raise awareness about diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of preventable vision loss among working-age adults. Data from the CBO indicates that one in three people with diabetes in Brazil will develop the condition at some point in their lives, affecting between 24% and 39% of patients nationwide.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when prolonged high blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina. The risk increases significantly with the duration of the disease: after 20 years, approximately 90% of type 1 diabetics and 60% of type 2 diabetics may exhibit some degree of the pathology. Experts emphasize that with early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of blindness can be reduced to less than 5%.

The campaign encourages regular ophthalmic exams, such as fundoscopy (eye fundus examination), even in the absence of symptoms. Additionally, health officials recommend managing blood glucose and blood pressure, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption to mitigate risks.