SUVA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- There are rising concerns that Fijians are losing their eyesight to diabetes as more than 550 people suffering from diabetic retinopathy have visited the Pacific Eye Institute this year to test their eye sight.

According to Fijivillage news website, Pacific Eye Institute Pacific Program manager Kirti Prasad said on Wednesday that they have registered more than 10,000 cases since 2012.

The institute has been seeing about 2,000 people on average annually.

Prasad issued a fresh statement this week urging Fijians to get their eyes checked at an early stage of their diabetes diagnosis so that the disease can be identified and treated earlier.

Prasad said along with following their diet and taking medications, they need to get their eyesight checked at least once annually.

About 35 percent of Fiji's adult population are diabetic, and 75 percent of the afflicted have Type 2 diabetes -- a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar, which is an important source of fuel for the body.

In at least 10 Pacific island countries, more than 50 percent, and in some up to 90 percent, of the population is overweight, according to World Health Organization (WHO) surveys.

A major challenge for Pacific island countries is to reinforce nutrition education in schools by promoting healthy eating practices for the younger generation. Enditem

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