DR Barometer Program

The International Federation on Ageing (IFA), the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and Vision Academy – supported by Bayer– have come together to shine a spotlight on the prevention, assessment and treatment of the potentially devastating consequences of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

To improve understanding of the complex global, regional and specific country issues giving rise to increased prevalence of DR a comprehensive, two-phase, multi-country study including 41 countries around the world was conducted in 2017. The global report and series of country reports synthesize and describe responses from over 7,000 participants adults with diabetes and health care professionals. They provide important insights that can be used to inform and shape policies, programmes and services to positively impact the vision health of adults with diabetes and provide the foundation for the DR Barometer Program.

In 2018 regional workshops regional workshops were convened in Latin American (Mexico) and Europe (Milan, Italy) bringing together a diverse group of experts including advocates for diabetes, vision health, and older persons, ophthalmologists, diabetes specialists, primary care providers, public health professionals, and industry. Barriers that impacted the vision health of adults with diabetes were intensely explored / tested in the workshops for their relevance across and within countries.

To optimize influence and lessons learned from the DR Barometer Study and to improve the vision health of adults with diabetes, the DR Barometer Program has an agreed framework through three main enquiries: patient education and empowerment; guidelines and protocols; and coordinated care which form separate yet connected communities of practice.

Join the DR Barometer community here.