Diabetic Eye Disease (DED) is a growing public health concern worldwide, with rising global diabetes prevalence, effective public health strategies are essential to combat DED. This paper discusses key strategies for the prevention and management of complications at a population level, including early detection through regular screenings, improving access to care, raising awareness, implementing robust policy frameworks, leveraging technological advancements, and involving communities. These approaches collectively aim to enhance early intervention, equitable care, and better management, thereby reducing the prevalence and impact of DED worldwide.
Cite this paper
Kamalu, A. O. , Uzor, E. C. , Odoemenam, C. L. and Amuzie, C. R. (2024). The Role of Public Health in Combating Diabetic Eye Disease (DED). Open Access Library Journal, 11, e1873. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111873.
Beaser, R.S., Turell, W.A. and Howson, A. (2018) Strategies to Improve Prevention and Management in Diabetic Retinopa-thy: Qualitative Insights from a Mixed-Methods Study. Diabetes Spectrum, 31, 65-74. https://doi.org/10.2337/ds16-0043
Sivaprasad, S., Netuveli, G., Wittenberg, R., Khobragade, R., Sadanandan, R., Gopal, B., et al. (2021) Complex Interventions to Implement a Diabetic Retinopathy Care Pathway in the Public Health Sys-tem in Kerala: The Nayanamritham Study Protocol. BMJ Open, 11, e040577. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040577
Curran, K., Piyasena, P., Congdon, N., Duke, L., Malanda, B. and Peto, T. (2023) Inclusion of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Strategies in National-Level Diabetes Care Planning in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review. Health Research Policy and Systems, 21, Article No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00940-0
Melo, G.B., Malerbi, F.K., de Medeiros, J.N. and Grauslund, J. (2024) A Comprehensive Strategy of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Public Health System: Identifying and Overcoming Obsta-cles for Implementation. Diabetes Epidemiology and Management, 13, Article ID: 100192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.deman.2023.100192
Wong, T.Y. and Sabanayagam, C. (2019) Strategies to Tackle the Global Burden of Diabetic Retinopathy: From Epidemiology to Artificial Intelligence. Ophthalmologica, 243, 9-20. https://doi.org/10.1159/000502387
Khandekar, R. (2012) Screening and Public Health Strategies for Diabetic Retinopathy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Middle East African Journal of Oph-thalmology, 19, 178-184. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-9233.95245
Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Garcia-Arumi, J., Bandello, F., Berg, K., Chakravarthy, U., Gerendas, B.S., et al. (2017) Guidelines for the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema by the Euro-pean Society of Retina Specialists (Euretina). Ophthalmologica, 237, 185-222. https://doi.org/10.1159/000458539
Giridhar, S., Verma, L., Rajendran, A., Bhende, M., Goyal, M., Ramasamy, K., et al. (2021) Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment Guidelines in India: All India Ophthalmological Society Di-abetic Retinopathy Task Force and Vitreoretinal Society of India Consensus Statement. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 69, 3076-3086. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.ijo_1469_21
Teo, Z.L., Tham, Y., Yu, M., Chee, M.L., Rim, T.H., Cheung, N., et al. (2021) Global Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Projection of Burden through 2045. Ophthalmology, 128, 1580-1591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.04.027
Setyati, R., Astuti, A., Utami, T.P., Adiwjaya, S. and Hasyim, D.M. (2024) The Im-portance of Early Detection in Disease Management. Journal of World Future Medi-cine Health and Nursing, 2, 51-63.
Echouffo-Tcheugui, J.B., Perreault, L., Ji, L. and Dagogo-Jack, S. (2023) Diagnosis and Man-agement of Prediabetes. JAMA, 329, 1206-1216. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.4063
Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Zhang, K., Ge, X., Sun, R. and Zhai, X. (2023) Early Detection of Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Limitations of Current Diagnostic Cri-teria. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, Article 1260623. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1260623
Hill, L. and Makaroff, L.E. (2016) Early Detection and Timely Treatment Can Prevent or Delay Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 120, 241-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2016.09.004
Ting, D.S.W., Cheung, G.C.M. and Wong, T.Y. (2016) Diabetic Retinopathy: Global Prevalence, Major Risk Factors, Screening Practices and Public Health Challenges: A Review. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 44, 260-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12696
Donaghue, K.C. and Liew, G. (2024) Measuring Outcomes of Diabetic Retinopa-thy Screening: What Is Important? Diabetes Care, 47, 930-932. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci24-0021
Liew, G., Mich-aelides, M. and Bunce, C. (2014) A Comparison of the Causes of Blindness Certifications in England and Wales in Working Age Adults (16-64 Years), 1999-2000 with 2009-2010. BMJ Open, 4, e004015. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004015
Laatikainen, L., Ojamo, M., Rudanko, S., Summanen, P., Keinänen‐Kiukaanniemi, S., Tuomilehto, J., et al. (2016) Improving Visual Prognosis of the Diabetic Patients during the Past 30 Years Based on the Data of the Finnish Register of Visual Impairment. Acta Ophthalmologica, 94, 226-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12952
Kashim, R., Newton, P. and Ojo, O. (2018) Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: A Systematic Review on Patients’ Non-Attendance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, Article 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010157
Gonzalez-Cortes, J.H., Martinez-Pacheco, V.A., Gonzalez-Cantu, J.E., Bilgic, A., de Ribot, F.M., Sudhalkar, A., et al. (2022) Current Treatments and Innovations in Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema. Pharmaceutics, 15, Article 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010122
Stewart, M.W. (2016) Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy: Recent Advances and Unresolved Challenges. World Journal of Diabetes, 7, 333-341. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v7.i16.333
Chan, A.X., McDermott IV, J.J., Lee, T.C., Ye, G.Y., Shahrvini, B., Radha Saseendrakumar, B., et al. (2022) Associations between Healthcare Utilization and Access and Diabetic Retinopathy Complications Using All of Us Nationwide Survey Data. PLOS ONE, 17, e0269231. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269231
Keenum, Z., McGwin, G., Witherspoon, C.D., Haller, J.A., Clark, M.E. and Owsley, C. (2016) Patients’ Adherence to Recommended Follow-Up Eye Care after Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in a Publicly Funded County Clinic and Factors Associated with Follow-Up Eye Care Use. JAMA Ophthalmology, 134, 1221-1228. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.3081
Konstantinidis, L., Carron, T., de Ancos, E., Chinet, L., Hagon-Traub, I., Zuercher, E., et al. (2017) Awareness and Practices Regarding Eye Diseases among Patients with Diabetes: A Cross Sectional Analysis of the CoDiab-VD Cohort. BMC Endocrine Disorders, 17, Article No. 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-017-0206-2
Mustafa Makhdoum, H., Anas Mahrous, F., Khalaf Al-shareef, E., Saeid Ghunaim, R., Osama Abukhodair, A. and Abdulaziz Alburkani, M. (2024) Knowledge, Attitude, and Prac-tices Regarding Diabetic Eye Disease among General Population in Medina City, Saudi Arabia. Open Journal of Ophthalmol-ogy, 14, 18-43. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojoph.2024.141003
Al-latayfeh, M., Shatnawi, R. and Al Shdaifat, A.A. (2021) Attitudes and Awareness Towards Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients with Diabetes in Amman, Jordan. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 14, 1425-1430. https://doi.org/10.2147/dmso.s302554
Lian, J., McGhee, S.M., Gangwani, R.A., Lam, C.L.K., Yap, M.K.H. and Wong, D.S.H. (2018) Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Association with Attendance for Systematic Screening at the Public Primary Care Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study in Hong Kong. BMJ Open, 8, e019989. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019989
Khalaf, F.R., Fahmy, H.M., Ibrahim, A.K., Mohamed, G.A., El Sayed Ez Eldeen, M., Elkady, A., et al. (2019) Does a Diabetic Retinopathy Educational Program Raise Awareness among Elderly Diabetic Patients? Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 12, 1867-1875. https://doi.org/10.2147/dmso.s208072
Wilson, B.A. (2024) Breaking Barriers: Partnerships to Improve Diabetic Eye Health in Alabama. American Journal of Accountable Care, 12, 10-17. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajac.2024.89521
Pollack Porter, K.M., Rutkow, L. and McGinty, E.E. (2018) The Im-portance of Policy Change for Addressing Public Health Problems. Public Health Reports, 133, 9S-14S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354918788880
Chauhan, H., U. S., S. and Singh, S.K. (2021) Health Information and Its Crucial Role in Policy Formulation and Implementation. Journal of Health Management, 23, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972063421994957
Rahbari Bonab, M., Rajabi, F., Vedadhir, A. and Majdzadeh, R. (2024) Sustainable Political Commitment Is Necessary for Institutionalizing Community Participation in Health Policy-Making: In-sights from Iran. Health Research Policy and Systems, 22, Article No. 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01111-z
Mohammadzadeh, N., Gholamzadeh, M., Saeedi, S. and Rezayi, S. (2020) The Application of Wearable Smart Sensors for Monitoring the Vital Signs of Patients in Epidemics: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Humanized Computing, 14, 6027-6041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-02656-x
Fenner, B.J., Wong, R.L.M., Lam, W., Tan, G.S.W. and Cheung, G.C.M. (2018) Advances in Retinal Imaging and Applications in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: A Review. Ophthalmology and Therapy, 7, 333-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40123-018-0153-7
Scutchfield, F.D., Hall, L. and Ireson, C.L. (2006) The Public and Public Health Organizations: Issues for Community Engagement in Public Health. Health Policy, 77, 76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2005.07.021
Yuan, M., Lin, H., Wu, H., Yu, M., Tu, J. and Lü, Y. (2021) Commu-nity Engagement in Public Health: A Bibliometric Mapping of Global Research. Archives of Public Health, 79, Article No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00525-3