Why Taking Care Of Diabetes Has Become Easier Over The Years
April 30, 2021
13 Ways To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
May 21, 2021
Diabetes can lead to the damage of various organs and tissues in the body. Among many organs that get affected due to the adverse effects of diabetes are your eyes. People with diabetes are more susceptible to developing a condition called diabetic retinopathy. In this vision disorder, high blood sugar levels due to diabetes damage the blood vessels of the retina. This leads to blurry vision and less intense focus. Persistent diabetes and diabetic retinopathy may also lead to complete loss of vision. Diabetes can also lead to the development of glaucoma and cataracts in your eyes. Hence, it is extremely important to get an eye check-up to confirm if you have diabetic retinopathy or any other problems such as cataracts and glaucoma.
What Are The Symptoms Of Eye Damage Due To Diabetes?
Blurry vision
Less intense focus
Partial vision loss
Seeing spots or floaters
How Often Should You Have Diabetic Eye Exam?
If you are a diabetic patient, you should get your eyes tested as soon as you get diagnosed with the disease. It is recommended that type 1 patients should get their eyes tested for diabetic retinopathy within five years of diagnosis. In type 2 diabetes, however, you must get tested as soon as possible. It may have taken you years to detect diabetes, but the eye damage might have already started before it being detected.
You must take a diabetic eye exam at least yearly to monitor vision problems and eye damage, even if you have not been diagnosed with any vision disorder. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you would already take a yearly eye check-up. In this case, few tests will be added to check if there is any eye damage due to diabetes.
What Does A Diabetic Eye Exam Include?
A diabetic eye exam can only be conducted when your pupils are dilated. This helps your doctor to see properly inside your eyes for any damage. To dilate your pupils, your ophthalmologist will put some drops in your eyes. During this eye exam, a couple of tests will be conducted including:
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT):
This test will help the doctor view the cross-sectional images of the retina and determine if any fluid has been leaked. Your treatment will depend highly on this test.
Fluorescein Angiography:
In this test, your doctor will inject a special dye into your bloodstream. This will help your doctor recognise which blood vessels are damaged or leaking.
What Is The Treatment Of Eye Damage Caused Due To Diabetes?
Depending upon the severity of the damage, the treatment will vary. The treatment also depends on the growth of new blood vessels. The body starts developing new blood vessels inside the eyes when the older ones get damaged. These new blood vessels are defective and fragile. They can bleed easily and also create scar tissues in the eyes. All these factors contribute to the selection of the treatment procedure.
No Treatment:
In case your retinopathy is not so severe, your doctor may not recommend anything. With just keeping your diabetes under control, you may keep your eye damage in check as well. However, continuous monitoring is mandatory in this case.
Focal Laser Treatment (Photocoagulation):
This treatment is used to stop or slow down the leakage from the blood vessels. This is one of the most effective treatments for advanced diabetic retinopathy.
Scatter Laser Treatment (Panretinal Photocoagulation):
In this treatment, the defective new blood vessels are shrunk using scattered laser burns. This avoids clotting and bleeding in the future.
Vitrectomy:
This is a minor surgery that is usually recommended when laser treatments don’t work. In this treatment, the doctor will make a small incision in your eyes to remove the blood that has leaked from the damaged blood vessels. The scar tissue pulling your retina will also be removed.
How Should Eye Damage Be Prevented In Diabetes?
Eye damage is a result of uncontrolled diabetes. Hence, the best way to prevent or control eye damage is by controlling your diabetes. Some other methods include the following:
Keep your blood sugar levels in control. Monitor it regularly and keep your doctor informed of any ups and downs. Take your medications and insulin dose regularly.
Monitor your blood pressure as well and keep your doctor always informed.
Inform your doctor as soon as you start developing any symptom. Early treatment is always better for any disease.
Get a diabetic eye test done as soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes. Delay may further damage your eyes.
Follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and meditate regularly to control your diabetes.
Quit smoking! Smoking is most hazardous to diabetic patients.
Maintain healthy body weight. Obesity or excess weight will fluctuate your blood sugar levels.
Eat a balanced diet. Include high-fibre food, fruits and vegetables in your diet. Take meals in short intervals to control your blood sugar levels.
Reference Links:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/diabetic-eye-exam#prevention
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371617
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000323.htm
- https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy?sso=y
- https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-eye-disease#:~:text=Diabetes%20can%20lead%20to%20swelling,other%20signs%20of%20diabetic%20retinopathy.’
- https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/blurry-vision
- https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/diabetic-retinopathy
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/310894
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/
