People with diabetes stand at an increased risk of a group of eye diseases (categorised as diabetic eye diseases) including Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Macular Edema, and Glaucoma.
If you have diabetes, you need to take special care in order to lower the risks of diabetic eye diseases. Know more about diabetic eye diseases here to take proper care.
1) How does Diabetes affect eye health?
High levels of blood sugar can cause the tissues in your eyes to swell and lead to temporary blurred vision. You may risk causing damage to the tiny blood vessels in the back of your eyes if you do not manage blood sugar levels. The damaged blood vessels, in turn, can leak fluids, lead to the growth of new weak blood vessels, increase the pressure inside the eyes, and/or cause swelling.
2) Protecting the eyes when you have diabetes:-
Managing your blood sugar levels is the best way to lower the risk of onset of diabetes eye complications mentioned above. You can talk with your eye doctor regarding the measures you need to take to manage your health condition and maintain a good eye health.
Our expert eye doctors at Disha Eye Hospital, a reputed eye hospital in West Bengal, can help you get a precise diagnosis and plan your treatment.
3)The most common diabetic eye disease:-
Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most common diabetic eye complications. The serious eye complication involves damages to the blood vessels of the retina’s light-sensitive tissue. Diabetic Retinopathy, at early stages, may not cause any symptom or involve mild vision changes. However, the eye complication can lead to permanent blindness if not properly managed.
4) Symptoms and treatment options of Diabetic Retinopathy:-
As the eye disease progresses, it may cause certain symptoms, including vision loss, vision blurriness, poor colour vision, and seeing floaters/dark spots in your vision. Major risk factors of the eye disease include the duration of Diabetes, tobacco use, pregnancy, and high cholesterol. Treatment options for Diabetic Retinopathy include medication, laser surgery, vitrectomy, and diet changes.
5) Diabetes and Glaucoma:-
People suffering from Diabetes are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma as compared to non-diabetics. A rare type of Glaucoma called Neovascular Glaucoma can occur when the damaged blood vessels on the retina lead to the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels on the iris and increase pressure in the eyes.
One of the treatment options for Neovascular Glaucoma is laser surgery, which is done to reduce the number of abnormal blood vessels on the surface of the retina and on the iris.
6) Diagnosing diabetic eye problems:-
Eye doctors conduct a dilated eye exam to diagnose eye problems caused by Diabetes. Prior to conducting the tests, the doctor may ask for medical history. During the eye exam, the eye specialist will widen the pupils using eye dilating drops. By doing so, the doctor will easily be able to examine the back portion of the eyes. The doctor may measure the pressure in the eyes and test visual acuity.
Get a proper consultation for Diabetic Retinopathy and other diabetic eye problems from our eye specialists in Kolkata
If you have Diabetes and are worried about your eye health, you can book an appointment at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment and talk with our eye specialists.