Nov 07, Kathmandu - The Tilganga Eye Hospital is organizing various week-long programs this year on the occasion of the internationally celebrated World Diabetes Day and World Prematurity Day.

The institute has stated that the day is being celebrated with the aim of promoting and preventing eye health and spreading awareness among the maximum number of people about blindness.

The information was given through a press conference to mark the day, highlighting the need for timely identification, awareness, and collaborative treatment of two important health challenges, diabetes and premature birth.

World Diabetes Day, celebrated on November 14 every year, draws the attention of the global community to diabetes and its serious complications. According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in nine people has diabetes and is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can damage the retina of the eye.

According to Dr. Raba Thapa, an ophthalmologist at the Tilganga Eye Institute, if not treated on time, it can lead to blindness in a person. The Tilganga Eye Institute has been urging all people with diabetes to undergo regular eye examinations. Among the eye problems, 'diabetic retinopathy' is one of the main causes of blindness. Dr. Thapa says that due to lack of public awareness about the effects of diabetes on the eyes, patients often come to the hospital very late.