Dr. Praveen Muraly, Senior Consultant, Vitreo Retina, The Eye Foundation, Bangalore, India explains how a person with diabetes is at an increased risk of suffering from various eye diseases.
Diabetes is a silent killer, which affects all the major organs of the human body, including the eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication caused in the retina, the light sensitive part of the eye, due to changes in blood sugar.
“Diabetes damages the blood vessels present in the retina and does not support the growth of new blood vessels. Ultimately, the blood vessels start leaking fluids at the back of the eye. Such developments can lead to total loss of vision, if not treated on time.”
You are at a risk of developing diabetic retinopathy if you have:
Prolonged diabetes
Poorly controlled blood sugar levels
High blood pressure
High cholesterol levels
Diabetic retinopathy in early stages may not present with any symptoms. The symptoms are evident only when the disease has advanced significantly.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include:
Loss of vision
Appearance of floaters in the field of vision
Blurred vision
Deterioration of colour vision
The diagnosis can include:
Dilated eye exam
Vision tests
Optical coherence tomography to detect fluid leakage in retinal tissue
Fluorescein angiography to look for leaking/damaged eye blood vessels
The treatment will depend on the severity and the type of diabetic retinopathy.
Steps to slow down or prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy include:
Keep a check on the blood sugar levels
Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Get your eyes checked regularly
Cut down on liquor alcohol and stop quit smoking
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