The Connection Between Diabetes and Eye Health
Diabetes is a systemic condition that affects many organs, including the eyes. High blood sugar levels can weaken and damage blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the retina, which is essential for vision. This damage can impair the retina’s function, leading to vision problems and other complications.
Elevated blood sugar can also cause the lenses of the eyes to swell and change shape, resulting in blurred vision. Over time, if high blood sugar levels are not controlled, they can lead to more severe eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is influenced by several factors, including how long a person has had diabetes, poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pregnancy, and a sedentary lifestyle. Understanding these risk factors is crucial for taking proactive steps to protect eye health through lifestyle changes and medical management.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This damage is directly linked to how long a person has had diabetes and how well their blood sugar levels are managed. Poorly controlled diabetes can cause the retinal blood vessels to swell, leak, or close, disrupting blood flow, and in some cases, leading to the growth of abnormal new blood vessels.
Diabetic retinopathy is categorized into two stages: non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), the early stage with mild or no symptoms, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), the more advanced stage where abnormal blood vessel growth can cause severe vision loss or blindness. The condition develops gradually, often without symptoms at first, making regular eye exams crucial. As high blood sugar levels continue to damage the retina, symptoms like blurred vision, floaters, or difficulty seeing colors may develop, potentially leading to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Types of Diabetic retinopathy
Over time, excessive sugar in the blood can block the tiny blood vessels that supply the retina, leading to restricted blood flow. In response, the eye tries to grow new blood vessels, but these are often weak and prone to leaking. Diabetic retinopathy is categorized into two types: nonproliferative (NPDR) and proliferative. In NPDR, the most common form, the walls of the retinal blood vessels weaken, causing tiny bulges that may leak fluid or blood into the retina.
This can lead to a buildup of fluid in the macula, potentially affecting vision and requiring treatment to prevent permanent loss. As diabetic retinopathy advances to the proliferative stage, damaged blood vessels close off, prompting the growth of abnormal new vessels that can leak into the vitreous, the gel-like substance in the eye. Scar tissue from these new vessels may cause the retina to detach, and if fluid buildup occurs, it can increase eye pressure and damage the optic nerve, leading to glaucoma.
Symptoms
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you may not notice any symptoms. However, as the condition progresses, you could experience floaters (spots or dark strings in your vision), blurred vision, fluctuating vision, dark or empty areas in your vision, or even vision loss.
Pregnancy can increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy, especially if you have gestational diabetes or already have diabetes before becoming pregnant. In such cases, your eye doctor may suggest additional eye exams during pregnancy. If you notice sudden changes in your vision, such as blurriness, spots, or haziness, contact your eye doctor immediately.
Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
Preventing diabetic retinopathy involves a combination of regular medical care and lifestyle changes. Regular eye examinations are crucial for individuals with diabetes, as they allow eye doctors to detect early signs of retinopathy before symptoms appear, with annual dilated eye exams recommended to monitor eye health. Effective blood sugar management is also essential and can be achieved through a balanced diet, regular exercise, taking prescribed medications, and closely monitoring blood glucose levels. Additionally, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels is important in reducing the risk of diabetic complications, including retinopathy.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Retinopathy
If diabetic retinopathy is detected, several treatment options are available to manage the condition and prevent further damage.
Laser Treatment and Surgery
Laser treatments, such as focal laser treatment and scatter laser treatment, can help stop or slow the leakage of blood and fluid in the eye. In more advanced cases, surgical procedures like vitrectomy may be necessary to remove blood from the middle of the eye and repair retinal detachment.
Medications and Lifestyle Adjustments
Medications such as anti-VEGF injections can help reduce swelling and slow the progression of the disease. Lifestyle adjustments, including maintaining a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and regular exercise, are also crucial for managing the condition.
Claim your first no-cost 15 minutes Bariatric support call Today itself!!
Click here To know more click here: https://www.todsindia.com/bariatric-helpdesk/
Role of Metabolic Surgery
Diabetic retinopathy develops over years of being a diabetic. So if the sugars are not being controlled by antidiabetic medication or insulin, Metabolic surgery which is a keyhole surgery helps in remission of Type 2 diabetes by minor altering in the gut in order to modulate the gut-related hormones that influence the pancreas.
The existing insulin resistance is taken care of and a person’s sugar levels not only come under control, but remission of type 2 diabetes can also take place. 1
So Metabolic surgery done within the first 5 years of being a YPE 2 diabetic can help prevent the development of diabetic retinopathy and also prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy and blindness
Conclusion
Vigilance is very important
Firstly, all diabetics should keep their sugar levels under control through strict diet control, exercise, regular medication, and blood tests2
Secondly, all diabetics should undergo regular eye checkups with an ophthalmologist. Check-ups should be frequent if the diabetes is not under control.
Thirdly, metabolic surgery can avoid diabetic neuropathy by reversing type 2 diabetes and also stop the progression if one has already developed diabetic retinopathy.
