Diabetes is a disease that profoundly affects many areas of your body, including your eyes. It increases your risk for eye conditions, such as Glaucoma and Cataracts. In addition, Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition that’s closely tied to having uncontrolled, high blood sugar levels for an extended period. Understanding this connection is vital for taking steps to protect your vision.
According to Dr. Sfurti Mann who is the Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine & Diabetology at Sanar International Hospitals, “Diabetic retinopathy most often affects both eyes at the same time and in equal measure. Both Type I and Type II Diabetes, even if it is under control can affect the eye.”
- Lids – Frequent Stye infections
- Lens – Refractive errors causing frequent change in glasses, overnight Cataract
- Retina – Swelling in Retina (Macular Edema), blood clots, retinal tears or detachment affects the vision of the patient.
- Orbit – Intra-ocular pressure also known as Eye BP also gets increased.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Symptoms
Dr. Shonraj Ballae Ganesh Rao, PhD and Head of Clinical Research at Remidio talked about the symptos of diabetic retinopathy. He said, “In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not produce noticeable symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, you may experience vision problems such as blurriness, distorted vision, floaters, or dark areas in your vision.”
Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes and Prevention
Dr Girish Parmar, who is a Senior Consultant, Diabetology & Endocrinology, at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital said, “Having consistently high levels of sugar in your blood can lead to various health issues, including problems with your eyes. One of the key processes at play is called glycation. This is where sugar molecules stick to proteins in the blood vessel walls of your eye’s retina, causing changes in their structure. This process also weakens the proteins in the blood vessel walls, making them more fragile and prone to damage. These weakened blood vessels can start leaking, leading to a buildup of fluid and other substances in your retina. This can harm your vision over time.”
“High blood sugar can also change how blood flows through the tiny blood vessels in your retina. This can create extra stress on the walls of these vessels, potentially leading to the formation of small bulges called microaneurysms. Additionally, it can cause blockages in these vessels, making it harder for your retina to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs,” he added.
Stages Of Diabetic Retinopathy:
Dr. Bhupesh Singh, who is a Senior Ophthalmologist, at Bharati Eye Hospitals said that there are two main stages of diabetic retinopathy:
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR): In the early stage, blood vessels in the retina weaken and may leak, causing swelling or fluid accumulation in the macula, which can affect central vision.
- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): In the advanced stage, new, fragile blood vessels start growing in the retina.These new vessels can bleed into the eye, leading to vision loss and possibly retinal detachment.
Preventing diabetic retinopathy:
To reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and to manage it if you already have it, there are important steps to take as suggested by Dr Girish Parmar:
- Control your blood sugar: Maintaining your blood sugar within a target range is critical. This involves regular monitoring and following your prescribed medications or insulin plan.
- Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet with plenty of nutritious foods, like fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, can help protect your retina from damage.
- Stay active: Regular physical activity supports overall health and helps with blood sugar control. It can also improve blood circulation in your eyes, which is beneficial for your vision.
- Regular eye exams: Annual comprehensive eye exams are a must. They help detect diabetic retinopathy early and also include screenings for other eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.
Importance Of Eye Examination For Diabetics:
Dr. Jyoti Shetty, who is a Consultant – Ophthalmology, at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore said, “Every diabetic should get a yearly examination of the retina done to see whether there is any onset of retinopathy. Do not wait till the vision drops down before getting the eye examination done. Even if the blood sugar levels are well under control, if you have long-standing diabetes, you could still have retinopathy changes occurring in the eye.”
“For the elderly, there are a lot of diseases that are associated with the aging eye. They are more prone to develop cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration. The prevalence of age related macular degeneration is increasing with the increasing survival rate of an average Indian adult. Cataract causing diminution of vision is easily reversible by surgery at the appropriate time,” she added.
Talking about Glaucoma, she said that glaucoma which is one of the causes of irreversible blindness should be picked up at the earliest before significant damage occurs to the field of vision. Age related macular degeneration which causes irreversible loss of central vision in the later stages again is irreversible. Hence, just going across and getting a spectacle correction done should not be the choice.
“Instead, a detailed eye examination to rule out all these problems, especially when there is a distortion of vision or diminution of vision, is advisable. Kindly do not take unknown multivitamin supplements unless advised by the physician or the ophthalmologist for specific pathologies in the eye,” she added.
[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]