New Delhi: Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working age group, said health experts on World Glaucoma Day on Tuesday. World Glaucoma Day is observed every year on March 12, to raise awareness about the set of eye diseases that can damage the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss and blindness if not treated early.

Diabetes is known to double the chances of having glaucoma, which hurts the optic nerve that is known to send visual information from the eyes to the brain.

“Diabetes Mellitus when uncontrolled affects all parts of the eye from the eyelids, cornea, lens, retina, and blood vessels of the eye and affects the eye pressures,” Dr Aishwarya Krishnamurthy, Consultant - Endocrinology & Diabetes, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, told

“Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working age group. The blood vessels in the retina may swell and leak fluid into your eye. If it's not treated, it can cause serious problems such as vision loss and retinal detachment, where the retina is pulled away from its normal position at the back of your eye,” added Dr Surender Kumar, Sr Endocrinologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.