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Everything That You Need To Know About Night Blindness: Causes, Symptoms And Diagnosis

Do you have trouble seeing clearly in dim light? Does it take you tremendously long to adapt to a dark room when you have just spent some time in a brightly lit room? If so, you may have been experiencing night blindness also known as Nyctalopia.

Although night blindness does not cause complete vision loss, it impairs the ability to see in low light. The eye condition could interfere with driving during the night, discerning facial features in poorly-lit rooms, as well as walking about the house in low light.

Find a solution at one of the best eye hospitals in Kolkata

Book an appointment at your nearest Disha Eye Hospital to receive a proper diagnosis in case the condition prevails. As one of the greatest eye hospital groups in the country, Disha is committed to providing quality treatment at affordable prices. Meet the most experienced and qualified eye specialists, who will assist you with the right diagnosis and the right treatment. To know more, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.

Everything That You Need To Know About Night Blindness: Causes, Symptoms And Diagnosis

Symptoms of night blindness

The chief symptom of night blindness is an impaired sight during the night. However, other symptoms may also indicate the presence of the eye condition. These include:

  • Difficulty in discerning the shape or placement of objects in a dark room
  • Taking a long time to adjust vision in a dark room after turning out the lights and/or walking out of a brightly-lit room
  • Impairment of depth perception in poorly-lit areas

In most cases, these primary symptoms are accompanied by other symptoms such as:

  • Sensitivity to light
  • Cloudy vision
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Eye pain
  • Headache

Causes of night blindness

Night blindness is a result of several eye conditions, many of which could be treated. Below is a list of eye conditions that cause night blindness:

Cataracts

Cataracts are a commonly diagnosed eye problem/ external sign related to the process of ageing. Cataracts are basically clouding of the lens, causing vision impairment. As the age increases, protein clumps are formed in the lens of the eyes. The protein clumps become thicker over a period of time, clouding the natural lens, and impairing vision by limiting the amount of light that enters the retina.

Night blindness is one of the symptoms of Cataracts. Other symptoms of the eye condition include blurry vision, double vision, sensitivity to glare, and impairment of colour vision.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is another age-related eye condition that causes night blindness. The occurrence could be attributed to the increase of intraocular pressure (fluid pressure inside the eyes). Several factors could lead to an increase in intraocular pressure; these include eye infection, genetics, and blockage of a blood vessel inside the eye.

Apart from night blindness Glaucoma causes other symptoms such as cloudy vision, redness in the eyes, seeing halos around lights, and tunnel vision (narrowed vision).

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when blood vessels leak inside the retina. The leakage leads to changes in vision. Diabetic Retinopathy may result in permanent vision loss, if not addressed properly.

Night blindness is a symptom of the above eye conditions along with other symptoms such as seeing black spots, floaters, blurry vision, and loss of central vision. Disha Eye Hospitals provide advanced diagnosis and treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy in Kolkata.

Diagnosis of night blindness

While conducting a diagnosis of night blindness, eye doctors look for determining factors such as:

  • Lowered visual acuity in low light
  • Presence of risk factors of night blindness-causing eye problems
  • Past medical history of Vitamin A deficiency
  • Family history of vision loss
  • Retinal vascular attenuation

Disha Eye Hospitals, one of the best eye hospitals in Kolkata, is known for offering cataract surgery at affordable rates. To learn an estimate of cataract surgery cost, schedule an appointment at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/

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Things You Should Know Before Using Coloured Contact Lenses

Whether you want to cosplay on Halloween or wish to get the same colour of eyes like that of your favourite celebrity’s, coloured contact lenses could fetch you the best scores. It’s possible to achieve a subtle or bold hue as shown in makeup videos, with a little help from these lenses. They are available in different colours namely blue, green, hazel, brown, violet, opaque, grey, etc. If you are insistent on buying a pair of coloured contact lenses for yourself, then you need to be mindful about the following:

Things you should know before using coloured contact lenses

  1. Never share your contact lenses: Sharing is caring but not when it comes to your contact lenses. It is never a good idea to share your contact lenses with anyone, be it your nearest relative or your best friend! Sharing contact lenses can increase the chance of transmitting harmful bacteria that might be a serious threat to your eyes, causing infections

  2. Use only lens care product: Just like other contact lenses, your coloured contact lenses should be disinfected, cleaned and stored properly as instructed, either by the manufacturer or the eye doctor. Use appropriate lens care products, like lens cleaning solutions, to maintain hygiene and avoid any kind of contamination.

  3. Never wear contact lenses when you have eye problem: If you have recently developed an eye problem like red eyes, stye, conjunctivitis or any other form of eye infection, then it is advisable to avoid wearing lenses as it might increase the discomfort.

  4. Don’t use expired lenses: Coloured contact lenses come with an expiration date and it is recommended that you do not use them beyond that period. The solution containing the lenses could spoil, and in turn cause discomfort to your eyes.

  5. Consult your doctor: Do not invest in lenses made of cheap quality. Before you buy coloured lenses, it is important for you to consult a doctor regarding the kind of lenses that will suit your eyes. There are a bunch of options to choose from, each varying in colour and design, and one must always purchase them against a prescription.

Schedule an appointment with some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata

Disha Eye Hospitals, one of the leading eye hospitals in West Bengal, provides the best solutions for cataract, glaucoma, corneal diseases, uveitis and paediatric squint at affordable rates. Besides Lasik and refractive surgery, the hospital is also equipped in treating diabetic retinopathy. If you or any of your family members have been coping with diabetic retinopathy, then you can easily book an appointment at Disha. To know more about our services, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Tests That May Detect Age-Related Eye Problems

As you age, so do your eyes. If you above 50 years old, then an annual eye examination should be part of overall health checkup. Those of you who have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of eye diseases, should see an eye doctor twice in a year. Vision problems can develop due to age-related issues as well as medical conditions. The best way to save your eyes is to detect issues early with regular eye examinations before the eye conditions reach an advanced stage. In between examinations, if you notice any change in your vision, contact an eye specialist at the earliest.

eye test

Keep your eyes healthy in your golden years with Disha Eye Hospitals

Untreated age-related eye changes can harm vision and eventually, adversely affect the quality of life. A delay in eye examination may end in unfortunate consequences. If you are above 50, it’s better to get a regular eye examination done before an eye disease sneaks up on you. For test and treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy in Kolkata, consult eye doctors at Disha Eye Hospitals, best eye hospital in West Bengal. Early detection of an eye disease means timely medical attention. Visit http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us to schedule an appointment.

Eye tests that the elderly need:

As you age, it’s time to be proactive about your eye health and monitor any changes in your vision. Read on to learn about common eye tests that the elderly people should get to keep track of their eye health:

  1. Eye pressure testing (tonometry): This test checks the pressure inside your eyes. High pressure inside your eyes can damage the optic nerve of the eyes. This test helps the doctor see if you have Glaucoma or you are you’re at risk for glaucoma. As the symptoms of Glaucoma only show up once the disease has reached an advanced age, it’s important to detect the disease early. Early detection can help you slow down vision loss.

  2. Dilated retinal examination: A dilated retinal examination can help spot many eye health problems and diseases like Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Pupil dilation is very important at revealing the status of your optic nerve and the health of the retina. The test is critical to detecting retinal diseases that could be potentially dangerous. It is recommended that people above the age of 50 years should have an annual, comprehensive, dilated eye examination. If left untreated, both Diabetic Retinopathy and Age-Related Macular Degeneration can cause severe vision loss in elderly people.

  3. Slit lamp (microscope): A slit lamp test uses a high-power biomicroscope to give the doctor a 3D view of different structures in the eye. It offers the doctor a magnified view of the retina and other structures in the back of the eye. It helps to detect a range of eye diseases like retinal detachment, cataracts, macular degeneration, and bleeding in the eye. It can also spot eyelid disease, cancerous changes and other problems in the eyes.

  4. Refraction: Refraction is part of a routine eye examination. It helps the doctors determine the prescription for eyeglasses you need to see properly. The test helps to detect refractive errors astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness and presbyopia. Changes in your prescription can also help the doctors to detect conditions like diabetes and cataracts.

Everyone who is over 50 years of age should visit an eye specialist for a comprehensive dilated eye exam every year. Even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems, you should get an annual eye checkup done as many eye diseases have no early warning signs or symptoms. Schedule an eye exam with highly experienced eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals. Our eye specialists and eye surgeons make sure that you and your family members receive the best eye care possible. Learn more about the eye hospital at http://www.dishaeye.org/history.

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Difference Between Cataracts and Glaucoma

Difference between cataracts and glaucoma

Cataracts and Glaucoma are two of the most serious eye complications. Both the degenerative eye diseases occur as the natural part of the aging process and cause vision impairment. However, the eye diseases have stark differences in between them.

Let’s uncover the key differences between these two serious eye complications to get a clear picture: 

1) Symptoms: While symptoms including eye pain and vision blurriness are common in both eye complications, the other symptoms that are different:

Cataracts:

  • Double vision in the single eye
  • Yellowing of colours
  • Clouded vision
  • Appearance of cloudy formation on eyes’ lens area
  • Lowered vision in dimly lit areas

Glaucoma:

  • Seeing coloured rings around lights
  • Sudden disturbances in vision
  • Eye redness
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Book an eye test online:

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to seek medical advice. We, at Disha Eye Hospital, have a team of some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment and get a proper diagnosis of your eye health.

2) Causes:- 

The way Cataracts and Glaucoma cause vision loss are completely different from each other, and so are the factors that cause them.

Cataracts: The eye complication occurs when the eye lenses become stiffer, start breaking down, and form clumps as you age. As the eye disease progresses, the clumps become denser and start clouding the lens. This, in turn, obstructs light to completely pass through and reach the retina which results in blurred vision. Cataracts can either develop in one eye or both eyes. In cases where cataracts form in both eyes, the clouding of the lens is not even.

Glaucoma: Glaucoma occurs when the intraocular pressure (IOP) increases above normal levels and damages the optic nerve. The IOP increases when the fluid (aqueous humour) in the front of the eye builds up when it is not drained as properly as it should.

As the IOP increases with time, more damage is done to the optic nerve, which, in turn, leads to gradual vision impairment.

3) Vision loss restoration:-
As discussed above, both the eye diseases cause vision loss. However, vision loss can be restored and reversed only in Cataracts and not in Glaucoma.

Cataract: Cataract surgery, the go-to treatment option for cataracts, involves replacing the clouded lens with an artificial lens. Before the surgery, the doctor takes into account the refractive error of the patient to choose an artificial lens accordingly to correct the vision.

Glaucoma: The goal of treatment options for Glaucoma, including eye drops and surgery, is to reduce and stop vision loss from worsening by lowering IOP. Depending on the severity of your Glaucoma, the eye doctor may start treatment by prescribing eye drops or schedule a surgery.

4) Prevention

Both Cataracts and Glaucoma cannot be entirely prevented. However, you can take certain steps to lower the risks. Some of these include:

  • A healthy and balanced diet:

    Eating healthily is key to maintaining good eye health and lowering the risk of complications. Add green vegetables, colourful fruits, fresh eggs, and lean fish and meat to your diet to make sure you get proper nutrition intake.

  • Regular exercise: 

Exercising regularly helps improve blood circulation in the eyes. Another key benefit of regular exercise is it helps you maintain healthy body weight. Being overweight and obese increases the risk of diabetes which, in turn, can cause a vision-threatening eye disease known as Diabetic Retinopathy.

Consult best retina specialists in Kolkata

If you are suffering from diabetes, you are at an increased risk of Diabetic Retinopathy. Our team of some of the best retina specialists in Kolkata can guide you on taking important steps to lower the risk.

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13 Eye Health Related FAQs

13 Eye Health Related FAQs

Have doubts about eye health? Check out the FAQs below:

1) How do cataracts develop and what are the treatment options?

There are two risk factors for the development of cataracts; age and exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Age-related cataracts occur when proteins in the eyes form clumps and restrict the amount of light that enters the retina. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays is another cause of cataracts. Other causes of cataracts include eye diseases and eye injuries.

Cataracts can be treated with an eye surgery in which the surgeon replaces the cloudy lens with a clear, artificial lens. But the surgery should be done from the best eye hospital in West Bengal.

2) How is cataract diagnosed?

Cataract can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam, including dilated eye exam and visual acuity test.

In a dilated eye exam, the doctor dilates the pupils using eye drops. By doing this, the doctor can determine cataracts’ opacity and impact on vision. The doctor is able to determine the extent of vision impairment through the visual acuity test.

3) Can I get a cataract surgery done during summers?

Yes. You can undergo a cataract surgery during summers. In fact, you can undergo a cataract surgery during any time of the year. Cataract surgery not being feasible during summers is just a myth.

4) What is diabetic retinopathy and what are its symptoms?

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes; the eye condition is one of the leading causes of blindness. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina.

The early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy go almost undetected, but can gradually worsen over time, leading to vision loss. Some of the common symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include eye pain, double vision, eye floaters and spots, and blurred vision.

5) Who are at the risk of diabetic retinopathy?

People suffering from diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, stand at the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Pregnant women with diabetes are at the equal risk. Disha Eye Care Hospital is the best among the top ten hospitals for retina treatment in Kolkata.

6) Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented? If yes, how?

There are several steps to lowering the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Managing diabetes is the first step to minimising the risk of onset of the eye condition. Other steps involve regularly checking blood sugar levels, testing urine for ketone levels, and undergoing an annual comprehensive eye exam.

7) Can eye injuries affect vision?

Yes, but it totally depends upon the severity of the eye injuries. Minor injuries can cause eye pain and temporary blurred vision while major injuries can have serious implications such as eye infection and vision impairment.

8) How to protect the eyes from diseases?

There are several ways how you can lower the risk of development of eye diseases. First off, maintain a healthy diet by choosing fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, and fish over unhealthy food items such as deep-fried snacks and frozen meat items.

Exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and get your eyes checked every year. These steps help you maintain an overall good health and keep the risks of eye diseases at bay.

9) What is glaucoma and what are its symptoms?

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can cause vision loss by damaging the eyes’ optic nerve. The eye disease is linked to the build-up of pressure (intraocular pressure) inside the eyes

Some of the common symptoms of glaucoma include eye pain, narrowed vision, nausea, vomiting, eye redness, vision loss, and seeing halos around the light.

10) What are the treatment options for glaucoma?

Your doctor may plan the treatment depending upon the severity of the condition. Eye drops for Glaucoma can either increase fluid flow or reduce its formation in the eyes.

Laser surgery is another treatment option for glaucoma. This procedure can help increase fluid flow in the eye. A surgery known as Trabeculoplasty involves opening a new channel to drain the fluid and lower eye pressure.

11) Why is it not safe to wear contact lenses past expiry/recommended date?

Contact lenses (as the name suggest) get into direct contact with the eyes when worn. Therefore, it’s crucial that you follow safety precautions to avoid serious implications. Wearing contact lenses past their expiry date can increase the risk of eye infections, which, in turn, can worsen and cause vision impairment.

The same applies to the cleaning solution. Make sure that you replace it after reaching the expiry date.

12) Will reading in dim light damage my eyes?

Reading is a precision activity, and when you do it under dim lighting, you increase strain to your eyes. As a result, you can suffer from symptoms such as eye redness, itchiness, pain, and dryness. The best practice is to read under bright lighting.

13) How to avoid eye injuries?

Eye injuries cannot be completely avoided. However, you can take steps to drastically lower the risks. For example, wear a protective eyewear when working at the workshop or travelling outdoors.

Choose quality eye treatment at Disha Eye Hospital – one of the best eye hospitals in Kolkata.

Our specialised team of eye experts at Disha Eye Hospital can help you maintain a good eye health through comprehensive eye check-up and quality treatment. For more information, visit us.

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Tips for Living With Glaucoma

 

Tips for Living With Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the most common eye diseases as it affects millions of people worldwide. The eye disease is common in older adults. It involves build-up of pressure in the eyes and impairment of vision.

Glaucoma can affect the quality of life as patients face discomfort and difficulty in doing regular activities with deteriorating vision.

Do you have Glaucoma? Here are the essential tips for living with the eye disease:

Coping with changing vision:-

As Glaucoma starts to worsen, it affects the vision. Low vision is one of the most common symptoms of the eye disease. Low vision can hamper the quality of life as it can cause difficulty in doing everyday work such as reading, working on a computer, driving, cooking, etc. In most cases, patients aren’t able to cope with low vision caused by Glaucoma even by wearing prescription glasses or contact lenses.

The best way to cope with low vision is to use visual aids or visit the best eye care hospitals in Kolkata for glaucoma treatment. There are a number of visual aids available including colours lenses, magnifiers, and computer text enlargers. Talk with your doctor to choose the visual aid that best suits you.

Getting organized:-

Getting organised is the key to dealing with vision changes caused by Glaucoma. It’s important to designate a specific place for every item. For instance, keep the keys, medicines, and your purse in a specific place where you have no difficulty reaching for them. It’s highly important that other members of the family respect and maintain the organisation system.

Marking and labeling items:-

Glaucoma patients with low vision face a great deal of difficulty working with specific items such as washing machine, microwave oven, etc. If you are on the same track, use a dimensional fabric paint to mark everyday items to feel the correct positions with your fingers.

Label your medicines with a highlighter to properly store them and have no difficulty finding them.

Improving lighting:-

One of the most important changes to make for dealing with low vision caused by glaucoma is to improve lighting in the home. Make sure that your home is properly illuminated. Use additional lights while working on a specific task. Also, improve lighting in rooms such as kitchen, hallway, and bathroom where there are risks hazards. When your home is properly illuminated, dealing with low vision becomes much easier.

Increasing contrast:-

Increasing contrast in every item helps you to better cope with low vision. For instance, use a white cup for your tea and coffee, use white chop boards for dark coloured vegetables. Increasing contrast is the key to effectively dealing with vision changes.

Listening to audiobooks:-

Googling all of your concerns can be a difficult task when you have low vision caused by glaucoma. This is where Audiobooks come as a great help as you don’t have to rely on your vision while taking in information.

Choose Glaucoma treatment in Kolkata at a reputed eye hospital:-

Do you or your loved ones suffer from Glaucoma? Opt for a professional treatment at Disha Eye Hospital as it is one of the best eye hospitals in India. The team of eye care experts provides meticulous care when it comes to addressing proper treatment not just for Glaucoma but for other major eye diseases as well.

Learn more about Disha Eye Hospital at http://www.dishaeye.org.

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Eye Care Insights to Know

Not all eye diseases can be prevented completely. But you sure can lower the risks if you practise some essential eye care habits every day. Luckily, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are a few eye care insights that are practical and easy to accomplish:

1. Avoid rubbing your eyes


This is a common eye care mistake that everyone makes. The hands are exposed to a lot of bacteria, dust and dirt. And each time you rub your eyes or touch them, it is transferred to your eyes.

Avoid putting hands in your eyes frequently. This helps in preventing any infection and another type of irritation. Get rid of this habit soon. Also, wash your hands regularly to keep infections at bay. Follow this religiously with your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

2. Stop overstraining your eyes

If you work in front of the computer for long hours, then your eyes are subject to a lot of pressure. Often, you are so absorbed in the work that you keep on staring at the screen for a longer stretch and forget to blink. This can make your eyes dry and increase the risk of Dry Eyes Syndrome.

Blink often; this not only keeps the ocular surface clean but also keeps it moisturised, healthy, and nourished. Also, use anti-glare screen protectors for reducing the glare levels and overstraining your eyes.

3. Sleep Well


If you are a night owl then you might be risking your eye health by staying awake till late night. Just like your body, your eyes too need enough rest and sleep so that it can function properly without appearing red, puffy, and tired.

4. Avoid over-the-counter eye medicines

It’s a natural tendency for people to buy over-the-counter eye drops and ointments to treat small eye infections and allergies. This can turn fatal for your vision. Avoid doing this. Wash your eyes with cold water. And in case the irritation continues, immediately consult an eye care specialist.

5. Protect your eyes in the Sun

Sunglasses are not just for making a fashion statement but also for protecting your eyes from the harmful UV rays. Whenever you are going out in the sun, avoid looking directly at the strong sun rays. Wear good quality sunglasses. These should be UV protected. It will protect the eyes from the damaging effect of the sun.

6. Eat for your Eyes

Eat right to maintain your vision. It’s a crucial step in your daily eye care routine. Vitamin deficiency affects your retinal function. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables such as beetroot, carrots, and a variety of green leafy vegetables in your diet. These contain eye-healthy nutrients such as Vitamins C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, Omega-3 Fatty Acids EPA and DHA. These help in lowering the risks of a number of serious eye issues.

7. Avoid Tobacco

Smoking tobacco is linked to many ill health effects but it also impacts your vision. Smoking increases your vulnerability to cataracts, Age-related Macular Degeneration, and other eye issues.

Follow these easy-to-implement steps to keep your eyes healthy.

Get your Eyes checked at a reputed Eye Care Centre in Kolkata

Are you looking for treatments for eye disease such as cataract and glaucoma in Kolkata? It’s best to review the hospitals beforehand to ensure that you are getting the best eye care service.

When it comes to opting for a good eye care in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospital is a name to be reckoned with. We have near about two decades of history in successfully treating eye issues and addressing all specialities of ophthalmic treatment. For any further details, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/home

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Facts on Diabetic Eye Diseases

glaucoma treatment in Kolkata

Do you have diabetes? If yes, then take care of your eyes. It’s because vision problems are one of the most significant complications caused by diabetes and is a common cause of blindness.

Poorly managed diabetes can affect the lens, macula, retina, and optic nerve in your eyes and may cause permanent blindness. This is why it’s important to understand how this condition may affect your eyes.
The most common and serious eye condition caused by diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetes causes a number of other eye conditions as well.

How diabetes affects your vision?

Diabetes may affect your vision (in severe cases) and may not, but in any case, it will affect your eyes and the way it functions. This is especially when your blood sugar levels are uncontrollably high. Here’s how it affect your eyes:

  1. Any changes in your blood sugar levels have an impact on your lens. This may blur your vision and as such, you may face difficulty in your day-to-day activities, depending on the blood sugar levels. It’s not necessary that people with diabetes will develop an eye condition. It all depends on your sugar level.
  2. Diabetes also makes your eye lens cloudy. This condition is called cataract. This happens when your eye lens swells due to high levels of blood glucose in the fluid around your eye lens. As a result, the area around the lens has more water than usual and it cannot focus the light properly on the retina. People with diabetes stand at a higher risk of developing cataract at an earlier age than non-diabetic people.
  3. Diabetic people may also develop glaucoma, an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. Elevated blood sugar levels may raise the ocular pressure (pressure inside your eyes) and result in glaucoma.
  4. Diabetes can also affect the flow of blood in your eyes. It may cause blockage in the vessels obstructing the flow of blood to your retina. This blockage can also cause leakage or cause unnatural growth in the vessels. All these conditions cause different types of retinopathy. This condition can turn worse, depending on the severity of the changes in the eye blood vessels.

Eye condition caused by diabetes

The World Health Organisation identifies diabetes as a major cause of blindness all over the globe. It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people suffering from diabetic retinopathy (DR) will rise to 191.0 million and the number of people suffering from vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy including Proliferative and Non-proliferative DR, and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) may rise to 56.3 million.

Source: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ceo.12696/pdf

Here’s a brief overview of eye conditions caused by diabetes:

5. Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy is of several types, depending on the level at which the blood vessels in your eyes are affected. This includes:

  • Background Diabetic Retinopathy

This type of retinopathy does not usually affect your eyesight. Your eyes develop this condition when there is a blockage in your capillaries in the retina. This causes the capillaries to swell which is known as microaneurisms.

A microaneurism may also leak blood or a fluid known as exudate. These changes in the eyes don’t affect the vision immediately but the eye doctor needs to monitor it regularly so that the condition doesn’t get worse.

  • Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The blood vessels in the retina help in delivering oxygen to your retina for its proper functioning. If background retinopathy gets worse, these blood vessels may get completely damaged. As a result, a large section of your retina is affected and the blood supply to the retina is reduced.

This condition is known as ischaemia where particular areas in your retina are deprived of the oxygen they require. Your body then tries to fix this issue by growing new blood vessels on the surface of the retina or the vitreous gel. However, these blood vessels are extremely weak and as such, they bleed causing haemorrhages.

Such haemorrhages can completely block your vision as your retinopathy enters a proliferative stage. In many cases, with time, the blood might get reabsorbed into your body and there is a chance for your vision to improve. But chances are high that these haemorrhages will keep resurfacing and the blood may not be absorbed completely.

This may lead to permanent vision loss. If the haemorrhages are large, it can also scar the tissue. As the retina shrinks, the scar tissues may distort the retina or pull it on. As a result, the retina may get detached and cause serious vision loss.

  • Diabetic maculopathy and diabetic macular edema

When the retinopathy affects your macula, it causes Diabetic Maculopathy. This condition affects your central vision which is important for seeing colours and other fine detail.

As a result,  it becomes difficult for you to carry on precision tasks such as writing, reading and seeing other detail. If the fluid leakage is near the macula, the accumulation of fluid can result in macular swelling. This condition is known as diabetic macular edema. This makes your eyesight blurred and distorted. Even the colours may appear washed out.

6. Cataract

It’s through the lens that your eyes focus on an image and see. This lens is usually clear and free of any debris. Now, when you have a cataract, the lens becomes cloudy. Anyone can develop this condition but diabetic people tend to get them earlier compared to non-diabetic.

Also, cataract in a diabetic eye worsens faster. If your eye lens is cloudy, it cannot focus on images as it should. Common symptoms of cataract include blurry vision and light sensitivity. Cataract can be removed by surgery. The doctor will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens.

If you are diabetic the odds of developing the eye condition depends completely on your blood glucose levels.  The lens of your eyes derives nutrients from the aqueous humour. This is the front part of your eye which is filled with fluid. Aqueous humour supplies oxygen and glucose to your eyes. Glucose is essential for proper functioning of the cells.

However, if the glucose levels are uncontrolled, the sugar content in your aqueous humour also increases causing it to swell and affects the clarity of your vision. The lens also has an enzyme that helps in converting glucose into sorbitol. When sorbitol accumulates in the lens, it affects the lens cells and other naturally-occurring proteins. As a result, the lens becomes more opaque. This condition eventually results in cataract formation.

7. Glaucoma

The relationship between diabetes and open-angle glaucoma is subject to research. Diabetic people are more likely to develop glaucoma compared to non-diabetics. Diabetes is also associated with a rare type of glaucoma known as neovascular glaucoma.

In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina are destroyed and as a result, the retina develops abnormal blood vessels. Neovascular glaucoma develops when new blood vessels grow on your iris. This obstructs the flow of fluid in your eyes, raising the eye pressure. This condition is difficult to treat; however, laser surgery can help in reducing the proliferation of abnormal blood vessels on the iris and your retina.

The doctor may prescribe medication for treating open-angle glaucoma. This is the most common form of glaucoma. Medicines can be used to lower eye pressure, reduce the amount of fluid in your eyes, and speed up the drainage process. Open-angle glaucoma usually doesn’t cause any symptom unless it has progressed to an advanced stage. A comprehensive eye examination is the only way to determine whether you have open-angle glaucoma or not.

You may notice these symptoms:

•    Headaches
•    Halos around lights
•    Blurred vision
•    Eye aches or pain
•    Vision loss
•    Watery eyes

How to prevent diabetic eye condition?

If your blood sugar levels are under control, you won’t have any problems in your vision. Even if you have, they won’t be severe. And that is why visiting an eye specialist from time to time is essential. This is the only way to find out whether your eyes are affected or not. The doctor may do the following tests and screening:

8. Diabetic Eye Screening

With early intervention, most of the diabetes-related eye conditions can be treated. And a thorough eye screening is the best way to detect any abnormality caused by diabetes. A comprehensive screening is essential during early stages of diabetic eye conditions as they don’t have any primary symptoms (except cataract). By the time the symptoms become noticeable, the condition becomes worse and difficult to treat.

During diabetic eye screening, the doctor will put an eye drop for enlarging the pupils. It takes 15-20 minutes and during that time, your vision is temporarily blurred. After that, the doctor takes photographs of your retina. The camera won’t touch your eyes and there will be several flashes each time a photograph is taken.

The light is pretty bright and the eye drops may make your eyes a bit stingy. Depending on the type of eye drops used, the haziness of your vision may last from two to six hours. After the screening procedure, everything around you may feel a bit bright. Do not worry, your vision will get normal soon after some time.

9. Photocoagulation (Scatter and Focal) and Vitrectomy

Scatter and Focal photocoagulation and vitrectomy help in preventing blindness in most of the cases. The sooner your condition is diagnosed, higher the chances that the treatment will be successful. In photocoagulation, the eye doctor will use a laser beam for making small burns on your retina. These burns seal the blood vessels, preventing further growth and leakage.

In scatter photocoagulation, which is also known as pan-retinal photocoagulation, the eye specialist will make hundreds of such burns in dotted patterns. This procedure reduces your chances and risk of blindness caused by vitreous haemorrhage or retinal detachment. However, this procedure will only work if the detachment hasn’t progressed much and before bleeding has occurred. Scatter Photocoagulation is also used for treating certain kinds of glaucoma.

Focal photocoagulation is where the eye care specialist aims the laser exactly on the leaking blood vessels in the macula.  This procedure won’t cure blurry vision caused by macular oedema but it can prevent the condition from getting worse.

In case the retina has already detached or excessive amount of blood has leaked into the eye, this procedure is of no help.  The next option that you have is vitrectomy. This is a surgery for removing scar tissue and cloudy fluid from your eyes. In this case too, the earlier you opt for the operation, the more likely it is to be successful.

For treating macular edema, the doctor either goes for Focal Laser Therapy or using medications. Focal laser therapy slows the leakage of fluid whereas medications can be injected into the eye to slow the growth of new blood vessels and for reducing the leakage of fluid into the macula.

Who are at the risk of developing diabetic eye disease?

Your chances of retinopathy are high if you have diabetes for a longer period. This means, almost everyone with type 1 diabetes may eventually suffer from non-proliferative retinopathy.

And most of the people with type 2 diabetes are also at the risk of developing it. If you are diabetic and you have good control over your blood sugar levels and if they are close to normal then you are less likely to develop retinopathy.

Most people with non-proliferative retinopathy usually do not show any symptoms. And that’s the reason why you should have your eyes examined regularly by an eye care expert.

Get your eye health diagnosed at a leading eye hospital in Kolkata

Get in touch with experts for thorough eye check-up or for glaucoma treatment in Kolkata. Visit http://www.dishaeye.org appointment to book an appointment.

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How to Take Care of your Eyes When you Have Diabetes

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Poor eye health and vision impairment is one of the biggest risks associated with diabetes. High blood sugar causes damage to the blood vessels in the eyes and can lead to an eye condition known as Diabetic retinopathy.

Although Diabetic Retinopathy cannot be cured, it can be prevented by managing blood sugar. Here’s a quick glance at how you can take care of your eyes when you have diabetes:

1) Understanding the risk factors

Understanding the risk factors associated with diabetic eye complication is a preliminary step in taking care of your eyes if you have diabetes. The risk factors for the onset and worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy include:

  • High cholesterol
  • Poor blood sugar control
  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • Pregnancy
  • Eating unhealthy foods
  • Sedentary lifestyle

2) Control blood pressure and sugar

High blood pressure, which is common for people with diabetes, combined with high blood sugar, can cause damage to the eye blood vessels which eventually impairs vision. To lower the risks of the onset of Diabetic Retinopathy and vision impairment, keep your blood pressure at around 140/80 or below.

Normal blood pressure is as important as controlled blood sugar in order to prevent diabetes-related eye complications.

Make sure that you keep your A1C level under 7% to minimize the damage to the blood vessels in the eye caused by high blood sugar. A1C is a test for determining a person’s average blood glucose level.

3) Keep the cholesterol levels in check

LDL or bad cholesterol causes damage to the blood vessels, and therefore, you should keep your LDL in check. You can keep track of the cholesterol levels in your body through a blood test.

There are many ways how you can lower the cholesterol levels in your body. The most effective ways are to exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and eat healthy foods – all of which have been discussed in the points following below.

4) Exercise regularly

Regular exercise is the best way to control blood sugar and pressure. When you exercise regularly, the oxygen content in the blood increases. This way, the blood vessels (including in the eyes) become healthy.
Exercising regularly doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym and lift weights. Simple cardio such as running, jogging, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, and cycling for at least half an hour every day is sufficient for staying healthy.

5) Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water every day is another great way to manage diabetes and lower the risk of eye complications associated with the disease. Just like regular exercise, drinking water every day keeps the nerves and blood vessels healthy.

According to Diabetes.co.uk, people with diabetes stand at a greater risk of dehydration due to high blood glucose levels in the body. The kidneys attempt to remove the excess glucose and excrete as urine. During this process, the water content in the blood decreases. Failure to replenishing for a prolonged period of time can cause dehydration which eventually impairs the blood vessels.

6) Eat only healthy foods

Eating healthy foods is the single best way to maintain a good eye health. People with diabetes, in specific, should stick to a healthy and balanced diet to control cholesterol, blood sugar and pressure.

Healthy and organic foods such as fresh vegetables, colourful fruits, and lean fish and meat contain all the essential nutrients which keep the body organs healthy, including the eyes. If you have diabetes, then you shouldn’t eat unhealthy foods such as packaged foods, processed meats, carbonated drinks, and deep fried snacks.

The best way to maintain a healthy and balanced diet is to consult with your doctor or nutritionist.

7) Quit smoking and alcohol consumption

Smoking and alcohol consumption is dreadful for anyone, but especially for people with diabetes as they have high blood glucose levels than that of a non-smoking person with diabetes.

This makes it more difficult for them to control their disease which puts them at a greater risk of diabetic eye complications and other diseases. If you have diabetes and you smoke/ drink alcohol, you should quit them as soon as possible.

8) Have an eye exam once a year

Diabetic eye complications such as Diabetic Retinopathy goes undetected, and the worst part is it cannot be treated. However, the eye complication can be prevented and regular eye check-up is the best and the only way to diagnose the symptoms.

Have a complete eye exam every year. This way, you will be able to track the changes in the eyes/vision, and the symptoms associated with Diabetic Retinopathy. If you have diabetes and don’t get your eye checked regularly, the odds are great that you’ll be diagnosed with the eye complication after it has already worsened.

The most common type of eye exam is dilated eye exam. During the exam, the doctor dilates the pupil(s) using special eye drops to check the early signs of damage to the blood vessels.

9) Monitor changes in the vision and similar symptoms

If you are new to diabetes, then you may experience slight changes in vision. Although this is common for most people who are diagnosed with diabetes, you shouldn’t take it for granted.

Instead, monitor the changes in your vision – whether it worsens or stays the same. Stay alert of symptoms associated with diabetic eye complications such as deteriorating blurry vision, partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes, flashes of light appearing in normal vision, and seeing black spots.

If you experience any of these symptoms, then you should see a doctor immediately as worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy can cause permanent blindness.

Get your eyes checked today

If you have diabetes and want to take care of your eye health, then get you eye assessed at Disha Eye Hospital – a leading eye hospital in Kolkata. At Disha Eye Hospital, you can get the best Diabetic Retinopathy, Cataract, and Glaucoma treatment in Kolkata.

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FAQs for Diabetic Patients

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Diabetes is a condition where the blood glucose levels are too high. This is mainly because either your body isn’t producing enough insulin or your body cells aren’t responding to the insulin. Diabetes affects multiple organs of your body, including your eyes. A study by the World Health Organisation says that all patients with Type 1 diabetes develop Diabetic Retinopathy; while 77% of people with Type 2 Diabetes who are living with Diabetes for over 20 years develop this eye condition. The report by WHO further mentions that Diabetic Retinopathy is responsible for 4.8% of the total 37 million cases of blindness all over the world.

Source: http://www.who.int/blindness/Prevention%20of%20Blindness%20from%20Diabetes%20Mellitus-with-cover-small.pdf

Apart from Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetes also contributes to the development of a number of eye conditions.

Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions on Diabetes

How Diabetes affect the eyes?

Diabetes causes:

1. Blurry Vision

If you have diabetes, you may often find that your vision has become blurry. This is because the high blood glucose levels make your lens swell, thus affecting your vision. For normalising your vision, you need to get your blood sugar levels down. It might take maximum three long months before your get back your normal vision.

2. Glaucoma

If you have diabetes, then you might get a rare form of glaucoma known as Neovascular Glaucoma. This is a condition where new blood vessels grow in your iris, blocking the flow of fluid and raising your eye pressure. Moreover, people having Type 2 diabetes are most likely to have Open-Angle Glaucoma. Medications help in treating Open-Angle Glaucoma. This helps in reducing the eye pressure and facilitates the drainage of fluid. On the other hand, Neovascular Glaucoma is a bit complicated condition and might require surgery. There are many options for glaucoma treatment in Kolkata. If you have diabetes, then it’s a must to get your eyes checked thoroughly in a good eye hospital in Kolkata. It’s because it’s impossible to diagnose glaucoma without thorough eye check-up.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy

The high blood sugar levels can cause severe damage to the blood vessels in your retina causing Diabetic Retinopathy. Controlling your blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure is essential for preventing this condition. You may develop Background Retinopathy (your blood vessels are damaged, but it doesn’t affect your vision); Maculopathy (a damaged macula), and Proliferative Retinopathy, a condition where the cells in the back of your eyes do not get enough oxygen and new blood vessels start growing. These blood vessels often bleed, thus scarring the retina.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/eye-problems#1
https://medlineplus.gov/diabeticeyeproblems.html

What are Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes is when the body doesn’t produce insulin because the insulin producing pancreatic cells are damaged by the body’s immune system. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. This is caused when either the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or the body couldn’t use the available insulin. This condition is common in people who are obese.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-faq#1

What is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is the condition when the blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but it isn’t high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. People who have prediabetes are likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Early screening is essential for avoiding any further risks.

Source: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/pre-diabetes.html

What is Gestational Diabetes?

This is a type of diabetes that women usually develop during pregnancy. This is a temporary type of diabetes. If you develop this type of diabetes in one pregnancy, you are likely to develop this during your other pregnancies. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in future. So, timely screening is important.

Who can develop Type 2 Diabetes?

These factors can increase your risk of developing this condition:

  • Family history: The family history of type 2 diabetes increases your risk of getting diabetes increases.
  • Age: with age, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. This may be due to decreased physical activity and loss of muscle mass
  • Obesity: Obesity increases your risk factor for type 2 diabetes. With more fatty tissues, your cells become more resistant to insulin.
  • Inadequate physical activity: if you are less active then you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
  • Unhealthy diet: a diet rich in saturated fats, sugar, and calories increase your body weight thus increasing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
  • What are the complications caused by Diabetes?
  • High blood glucose levels can damage your kidneys, eyes, nerves, and cause cardiovascular disease. You become susceptible to foot infection (that may lead to gangrene), stroke, heart attack, and sexual dysfunction.

Why it’s important to take special care of the feet?

People with diabetes are prone to foot problems. The blood circulation in your feet becomes poor thus damaging the nerves and reducing sensation. Check for various foot conditions such as cracked skin, swelling, ingrown toenail, blisters, bleeding corns. Proper foot care ensures that no wounds become so severe that the leg needs amputation.

Do Diabetic people need special diet?

Not really. Just ensure that the diet you are following is healthy and contains complex carbohydrates (whole grain cereals), is low in fats, and includes plenty of vegetables. If you plan your diet accordingly, you can still eat all kind of food and stay healthy.

What is Hypoglycaemia?

Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar level is the most common complication faced by diabetic people. Due to several conditions such as not eating properly or eating too late, doing vigorous physical activity may drop your blood sugar levels below normal range. Patients usually feel weakness, sweating, and giddiness. At that time, the patient must be given fruit juice or some sugary drink. In case the patient is unconscious, he or she must be given intravenous glucose. Adjusting the dosage of antidiabetic medicine can help avoid this condition.

Source: http://www.searo.who.int/entity/world_health_day/2016/faqs-diabetes.pdf?ua=1

Glaucoma Treatment in Kolkata

Looking for the best eye hospital in Kolkata? Why not get your eyes tested by the experts at Disha Eye Hospital? We provide comprehensive glaucoma treatment in Kolkata. Book an appointment with us today at http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment.