Diabetes And Your Eyesight
What does diabetes mean to a common
man? Sugar? But it's not that simple. Diabetes is a
multi-organ disease that affects almost all parts of the
body simultaneously and eyes are most commonly affected. The
side affects of diabetes can be prevented or delayed by
being in touch with doctors.
Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preserving
good eyesight throughout life. Sometimes, diabetes may be
first detected by manifestations in the eye like infections,
boils, styes, recurrent redness, mild haziness of vision,
double vision, frequent change of glasses for reading,
difficulty in focusing near or distance, difficulty in
driving especially at night, glare etc. as these signs also
appear in established diabetic patients. In the presence of
these suspicious symptoms or when in doubt it's wise to have
detailed eye testing from a specialist.
The main affect of diabetes on eyes is a matter of concern
since it can cause permanent untreatable blindness -
diabetic retinopathy. In simple terms it means diabetic
affects or deposition on retina of the eye. In early stages
diabetic retinopathy many not have any symptom to warn you
of it happening inside the eye. This can only be detected by
detailed, meticulous examination of the retina. This early
detection is only possible by awareness and understanding of
the disease, regular eye examination, minimum once a year,
unless told otherwise by the eye surgeon, early referrals by
diabetologists, endocrinologists, treating physicians and
general doctors, all of whom need to get their diabetic
patients cleared of diabetic retinopathy, off and on, as
they do to rule out other complications of the disease.
In fact, in this early stage, when there may be just a
thickening of the retina or presence of tiny blood clots due
to diabetes, called CSME, even in the presence of normal 6/6
vision, laser treatment benefits the patient the most. If
diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed at a later stage, it
progresses to severe stage with abundance of hemorrhages,
exudates and fluids and formation of new blood vessels,
ultimately leading to complete blindness due to total
bleeding inside the eye, which requires major eye surgery to
retrieve a little bit of vision that could have been almost
100 percent in earlier stages.
Uncontrolled diabetes and diet, blood pressure, excess
weight and cigarette smoking are not good associations. It
is absolutely necessary to get your eyes tested when your
treatment is shifted from oral drugs to insulin because the
latter can cause start/worsening of diabetic changes in the
retina, and that too at a fast speed. Diabetic retinopathy
in pregnancy should be carefully monitored. Cataract surgery
can worsen the retinal condition and get it checked
immediately after the surgery. Diabetes can also cause fast
maturation of cataract.
About the author:
Lucy Nicholas also writes on
Reviews of Acne Remedies, Remedy.
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