Kenya urged to close gaps in retinal care to prevent avoidable vision loss

Kenya needs to strengthen screening, referral and continuity of care for retinal diseases as the growing number of people diagnosed with diabetes and an ageing population increase the risk of preventable vision loss, doctors have warned...

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Kenyan doctors are urging the nation to improve retinal care services to combat rising rates of preventable vision loss, primarily driven by diabetes and an aging population.

813,000+ adults in Kenya live with diabetes, with over 54% undiagnosed, a major risk factor for diabetic eye complications.
Dr. Mahesh Chandargi, a vitreoretinal surgeon, highlighted that up to 41% of Kenyan adults with diabetes are affected by diabetic retinopathy.
Limited access to specialized retinal services, with only about 10 retinal specialists in seven centres (mostly in Nairobi), forces long-distance travel and financial burdens for patients.