[Health Tip] Today is 'Mangmak's Day'... Beware of Increasing Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy

Today (the 30th) is World Retina Day. Established in 1971 by Retina International, it is observed annually on the last Saturday of September to raise awareness about retinal diseases. Among the three major causes of blindness?macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma?both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are retinal diseases, excluding glaucoma which is a neurological disorder. It has been pointed out that the number of patients with these two retinal diseases is rapidly increasing, requiring attention.

A person undergoing a fundus examination to check for retinal diseases and others [Photo by Kim Eye Hospital]

According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service on the 30th, the number of patients with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy nearly doubled (192.5%) over the past decade, increasing from 417,562 in 2013 to 803,959 last year. By disease, the number of macular degeneration patients tripled (304.8%), while diabetic retinopathy patients increased by 1.3 times (135.5%).

This surge in patient numbers is analyzed to be due to aging, Westernized dietary habits, and early detection through health screenings. Macular degeneration is primarily caused by aging, and South Korea is rapidly becoming an aged society, with those aged 65 and older accounting for 18% of the population as of 2022. Diabetic retinopathy, mainly caused by diabetes, is also increasing due to a rise in diabetes patients linked to obesity from high-calorie, high-protein diets.

Macular degeneration is a disease where the macula, the central part of the retina densely packed with photoreceptor cells, is damaged or degenerates. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, over the past 10 years since 2013, the number of patients aged 40 and above has more than tripled, showing a clear increasing trend among the elderly. Diabetic retinopathy appears in about 60-70% of patients with a diabetes history of around 15 years, and its incidence increases with higher blood sugar levels or longer duration of diabetes. Notably, due to changes in dietary habits, the number of young diabetic patients has increased, and the number of diabetic retinopathy patients in their 20s has grown approximately 1.5 times over the past decade.

Both diseases are serious conditions that are difficult to recover normal vision from once they occur and can lead to blindness if left untreated. Moreover, early symptoms are often not noticeable, and it is difficult to distinguish them from symptoms of other eye diseases, making regular ophthalmologic examinations crucial for early detection. Especially in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, patients often do not feel any symptoms, and if vision deteriorates or floaters appear, it is likely that the disease has already progressed significantly. Macular degeneration symptoms may include decreased vision, distorted vision where objects appear bent, and central visual field scotomas.

Yu Young-joo, a retinal specialist at Kim Eye Hospital, said, “The retina is the innermost part of the eye and a critical tissue that determines vision, and the number of patients is rapidly increasing due to social changes. On the occasion of World Retina Day, I hope many people recognize the risks of retinal diseases and the importance of the retina to protect their eye health.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.