FACTS ABOUT DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Diabetes retinopathy is a serious sight-threatening complication. A person with diabetes has trouble using, storing, or managing sugar (glucose). A condition characterized by too much blood sugar can damage the body in all areas, including the eyes. Throughout the body, diabetes damages tiny blood vessels, including those in the retina. A diabetic retinopathy is caused by leakage of blood and other fluids by these tiny blood vessels. This causes the retinal tissue to swell, resulting in blurry or cloudy vision.
Usually both eyes are affected by diabetic retinopathy. A person with diabetes has a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy the longer they have the disease. Untreated diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. People with diabetes may accumulate fluid in the lens inside the eye that controls focusing if they have high blood sugar for an extended period of time. This results in a change in the curvature of the lens. The lenses will gain their original shape once blood sugar levels are controlled, however, and vision will improve. Controlling blood sugar levels more closely will slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy in diabetics.
SURVEY BY AMERICAN EYE -Q
A 2018 American Eye-Q ® survey conducted by the American Optometric Association found that nearly half of Americans were unaware that diabetic eye diseases have visible symptoms (often not present in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy). One third of Americans don’t know that only a comprehensive eye exam can determine if diabetes will cause blindness, which is why the AOA recommends that everyone with diabetes have a comprehensive dilated eye examination at least once a year. Diabetic retinopathy can take a significant toll on your vision if not detected early.
RESEARCH OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
The school of optometry at Indiana University found that new biomarkers in the eye could be used to develop better treatments for diabetic retinopathy.According to research, retinal imaging and artificial intelligence can now be used to detect diabetes-related eye changes earlier than previously believed.It would be possible to detect diabetic retinal damage early with painless methods, according to lead author Professor Ann E. Elsner of Indiana University. This would allow undiagnosed patients to be identified early enough to prevent the complications caused by uncontrolled diabetes.It has been explained that the new algorithm could provide early information specific to specific retinal layers and tissues.
INSTRUCTIONS OF OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Diabetics should have their eyes tested for diabetic retinopathy at least once a year and then follow up according to their ophthalmologist’s instructions. As a result of diabetic retinopathy, the central part of your retina (which controls how fine your vision is) swells, resulting in decreased vision. Treatments for this condition include injections or lasers. Additionally, diabetic retinopathy may also cause more serious bleeding in the eyes or a retinal detachment, which may require laser surgery.
Over 60 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes and nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes have retinopathy within the first two decades. Diabetic retinopathy affects up to 21 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes when they are first diagnosed. Diabetes retinopathy may be accelerated by other systemic diseases such as hypertension and high blood cholesterol. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released the National Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy Survey finding that among diabetic patients, blindness rates were 2.1% and visual impairment was 13.7%.
CONCLUSION
The sad thing about diabetic retinopathy is that in its early stages it never produces any symptoms. In diabetics, the absence of symptoms does not indicate the absence of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, due to the unprecedented effect of the pandemic, scheduled eye exams have taken a back seat. As a result, patients with diabetic retinopathy have significantly worse visual outcomes. The best way to prevent diabetes is to prevent it from happening. Maintain your eye health by following your primary care provider’s advice, and get regular eye exams.