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New York, Feb 19: A prescription drug commonly used to treat age-related vision loss also reverses vision loss caused by diabetes, says a study led by an Indian-origin physician. The drug, Ranibizumab is manufactured and marketed by US-based Genentech Inc. under the trade name Lucentis. We found that Ranibizumab can save the sight of thousands of working-age individuals suffering from diabetic eye disease, as standard treatments such as laser are not as effective, said lead author Rohit Varma, director of the University of Southern California (USC) Eye Institute.
Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema are the leading causes of vision loss in working-age adults in the United States, according to the National Eye Institute. Varma's team developed a population-based model that suggests that administering 0.3 milligrams of ranibizumab every four weeks to patients with diabetic macular edema would reduce the number of cases of vision impairment by 45 percent, or 5,134 individuals, and the number of cases of legal blindness by 75 percent, or 1,275 individuals. (Read: World Diabetes Day 2014: Why early detection of diabetes is good for your eyes)
The model was based on the approximately 37,000 adults with diabetic macular edema in the US for whom ranibizumab treatment could be used. The study supported in part by Genentech Inc appeared in the online edition of the journal Ophthalmology. (Read:Beware diabetes can make you go blind!)
Here are few tips from Dr Vandana Jain to prevent diabetes and its allied eye problems.
Get regular eye check-ups: Most people suffering from diabetes check their blood sugar levels regularly and may even get kidney and heart tests done at least once in a year, but they somehow forget about eye-check-ups. If you suffer from blurry or fluctuating vision, see spots or strings floating, shadows or dark areas in your vision or have difficulty perceiving colours, you need to get your eyes checked. It is very important to visit a doctor as soon as you notice any of these symptoms to prevent permanent damage to your eyes.
Keep a tab on your blood sugar levels: Keep a strict check over your diabetes. Regular exercises, healthy diet and active lifestyle are some of the key measures to control your blood sugar. By doing so, you protect yourself from a wide range of health complications other than vision problems such as heart disease, kidney ailments and foot problems (like diabetic foot). Read more about Eye care tips for diabetics
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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