The All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) joined hands to spread awareness on diabetic retinopathy, which is a condition arising due to diabetes and can cause permanent blindness to an individual if left untreated.

The society has organised 200 Diabetic Eye Screening Clinics (DESC) across India to screen the diabetics and empower them to take timely measures. The camps will be held across all cities in India from November 14 to November 21, 2015 in order to mark ‘World Diabetes Week’.

In Mumbai there will be 15 clinics examining and explaining to the patients about the perils of diabetes. Saifee Hospital, Mumbai Retina Centre, P.D. Hinduja Hospital and K.J Somaiya Medical College are amongst the few places where patients can visit for free check up.

Dr. Quresh B. Maskati, immediate past president - AIOS and national convenor DESC, AIOS says, “The AIOS is the world's largest national body of eye surgeon's with almost 20,000 members. We are conducting these camps simultaneously across 200 diabetic eye screening clinics with each running from 1-7 days during the World Diabetes Week and we aim to screen 20,000-25,000 diabetics in a week.”

He further adds, “The data from each patient is being preserved and will be later analysed and presented to the department of non-communicable diseases, ministry of health, government of India within a month so that policy decisions can be made based on our recommendations. We would also like to thank Times Now for their immense support in helping AIOS reach out to the diabetics across the country and build awareness for this cause.”

A panel discussion was organised by AIOS on November 16, 2015 to discuss and dissect the hazards caused by one of the deadliest disease affecting millions across the globe. B-town A-listers Karisma Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra formed an elite panel alongside highly qualified doctors from the IMA, J.J Hospital, AIOS and raised concerns with respect to diabetic retinopathy. They spoke about the dangers of the disease and stressed on the importance of visiting a diabetes specialist and an eye surgeon at regular intervals. To make things easier for everyone, the panelists urged everyone to visit the numerous clinics set up by AIOS in order to prevent permanent loss of eyesight.

The panelists included Dr. Debashis Bhattacharya, president, AIOS; Dr. Yogesh C. Shah, treasurer, AIOS; Dr. Marthanda Pillai, president, National Indian Medical Association; Dr. T.P. Lahane, dean, JJ Hospital: Dr. Quresh B. Maskati; Dr. Himanshu Mehta, member - managing committee, Bombay Ophthalmologists Association; and Dr. NSD Raju, past president of AIOS and convenor, IMA Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy Project.

The All India Ophthalmological Society aims to examine more than 20,000 diabetic’s right from Kashmir to Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a bid to safeguard the vision of the masses free of cost. Doctors stationed at these camps will screen patients for changes in the retina due to diabetes referred to as diabetic retinopathy in medical terminology. The ones who get detected with the ailment are referred to charitable and government centre’s for further evaluation and treatment.