How Does Diabetes Have an Impact on Your Eyes?
Diabetes is a long-term illness that impacts the body’s ability to utilise food as fuel for your eyes. Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar, which can cause a number of health issues, including eye problems. It is essential to comprehend how diabetes affects eye health in order to recognize and treat the condition early on, which can assist avoid more serious vision issues.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most prevalent eye problems associated with diabetes. This disorder develops when blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye, are harmed by elevated blood sugar levels. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in two stages: proliferative and non-proliferative.
1. Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): In its initial stages, NPDR causes the retina’s blood vessels to weaken and develop microaneurysms, which are tiny blood vessel bulges that have the potential to leak blood and fluid into the retina. This seepage may result in retinal edema and impaired vision.
2. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): In PDR’s more advanced phases, new blood vessels are developing in the retina. The vitreous, the translucent, jelly-like material that fills the center of the eye, may bleed blood into these new, frequently fragile capillaries. Blindness or serious visual loss may result from this bleeding. Get the best diabetic retinopathy treatment Chennai with advanced technologies.
3. Cataracts:
A disorder where the natural lens of the eye gets clouded, cataracts are more common in people with diabetes. It could be difficult to see properly due to this clouding. Those with diabetes typically experience the onset and progression of cataracts earlier in life than people without the disease.
4.Glaucoma
Another eye condition that diabetes may make worse is glaucoma. It involves harm to the optic nerve, frequently brought on by elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is twice as common in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Although glaucoma can take many different forms, open-angle glaucoma is the most frequently associated variety with diabetes. If left untreated, this illness may result in progressive visual loss and irreversible blindness.
Symptoms to Watch For
Diabetic eye disorders must be detected early. Regular ocular examinations are crucial since symptoms might not show up until the illness is more advanced. But keep an eye out for indicators like these:
hazy vision
Variable vision
Void or dark patches in your field of view
inadequate night vision
observing floaters or specks
loss of vision
See an eye care expert at Sankara Eye Hospital right away if you encounter any of these symptoms.
Prevention and Management
The greatest strategy to avoid or slow the development of diabetic eye problems is to carefully manage diabetes. The following are some crucial tactics:
Control Blood Sugar: Damage to the blood vessels in the eyes can be avoided by keeping blood sugar levels within the desired range. It’s critical to follow prescription drug regimens and do routine monitoring.
Control Blood Pressure and Cholesterol: Diabetes-related ocular problems can be made worse by elevated blood pressure and cholesterol. The chance of eye problems can be decreased by managing these with food, exercise, and medicine.
Healthy Lifestyle Options: You can greatly lower your risk of developing diabetic eye disorders by maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and quitting smoking. Consuming a well-balanced diet full of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can help control blood sugar levels and enhance general health.
Treatment Options: Laser surgery, vitrectomy, and pharmaceutical injections to stop blood vessel leaking and minimize retinal edema are available if diabetic eye disease is confirmed.
Conclusion
Diabetes can lead to a number of eye disorders, including glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. Preventing vision loss requires early detection through routine exams at eye hospital in Nanganallur and efficient diabetes control. People with diabetes can safeguard their eyesight and general health by controlling their blood sugar levels, controlling their blood pressure and cholesterol, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.