Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is an often silent yet steadily rising cause of avoidable blindness in India. As the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise, its ocular complications are emerging as a major public health concern. In 2025, it is estimated that around 101 million adults in India live with diabetes, and this number could exceed 125 million by 2045. Among them, nearly 5–7%—approximately 4 to 6 million individuals—are already at risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR).

India has made significant strides by recognizing DR as a priority under the national eye health agenda and initiating several promising screening and management models. However, the absence of a uniform, India-specific framework has resulted in inconsistencies in care delivery and outcomes across regions.

To bridge this critical gap, VISION 2020: The Right to Sight – India has taken a pioneering step by developing the Revised National Guidelines forthe Management of Diabetic Retinopathy in India (2025). This landmark revision marks a significant advancement in strengthening India’s collective response to diabetic eye disease, reflecting the nation’s evolving health priorities, integrating the latest global evidence, and building upon valuable lessons from national and regional DR programs implemented over the past decade. Anchored in the powerful theme “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Inclusion and Accessibility in Eye Care – A Step Towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” this initiative reinforces our shared responsibility to ensure that quality eye care reaches every individual—irrespective of geography, gender, ability, or socio-economic background.   

These guidelines mark a unified effort to bring consistency, quality, and accountability to diabetic retinopathy management across all levels of care. By aligning practice standards and promoting collaboration between government, professional bodies, and civil society, they aim to ensure that every person with diabetes in India receives timely and equitable eye care—irrespective of geography or access barriers.