The global burden of blindness and vision loss caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1990 to 2021 and projections to 2050: findings from global burden of disease 2021

We aimed to analyze the global trends in the burden of blindness and vision loss caused by type 2 diabetes from 1990 to 2050. Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021, prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD) were analyzed by age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI) for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021, with projections of future trends from 2021 to 2050. There were 5694156 (4498190–7112643) prevalence numbers and 459976 (304429–661417) YLDs due to blindness and vision loss at the global level in 2021. The age-standardized prevalence rate was 65.7 (52.2–82), the YLD rate was 5.3 (3.5–7.6) in 2021, all of which exhibited increasing trends from 1990 to 2021. Regionally, the highest age-standardized prevalence rate was observed in Central Latin America (145.8, 116.7–179.6). Nationally, Palestine (265.2, 203.7–339) had the highest age-standardized prevalence rate. Compared with males, the global numbers and age-standardized rates of prevalence and YLD were higher in females in 2021. Most of the 21 GBD regions exhibited upward trends in age-standardized YLD rates from 1990 to 2021. The age-standardized prevalence rate presented increasing trends for males, females, and both sexes at a global level from 2021 to 2050. The global burden of blindness and vision loss presented upward trends during the retrospective 30 years and the future 30 years. Enhancing population screening, and optimizing treatment strategies, such as improving retinal screening and community-based disease education, are all essential to release the disease burden, particularly in high-risk groups.