|
|
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 |
|
|
Untitled Document
| |
