Diabetic and Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic and Diabetic Retinopathy

Best Diabetic Retinopathy doctor in Kalaburagi | Kamal Eye Hospital -Gulbraga

Overview:

Diabetes is a very common condition seen in lakhs of people of various ages around the world. It’s a condition where the body is impaired to produce insulin leading to a spike in blood sugar levels. Diabetes is generally classified into two categories – type 1 diabetes where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, type 2 diabetes where the body can’t respond normally to the insulin produced or resists the insulin.

Diabetes / diabetes mellitus eventually increases the risk of various other problems that includes cardiovascular diseases, kidney problems, stroke, neurological problems, eye-related disorders and more.

One such complication of diabetes that affects the eyes is ‘Diabetic retinopathy’ (DR). 

Improper management of diabetes leads to this rare condition of DR which in due course might result in vision loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Know More

Retina is a membrane that covers the back of the eye and is highly sensitive to light. Any light that hits the eye is converted to signals and sent to the brain for further interpretation. 

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one such rare condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina of the eye resulting in vision loss and blindness.

As observed, with age, diabetes is affecting more number of people, and hence the risk factor affecting your eyes increases. It thus becomes important to get the dilated eye test done regularly and prevent the extremes.

Symptoms:

Unfortunately, Diabetic retinopathy may not show any symptoms in the beginning. With progress in condition, observe for the following symptoms and take immediate actions to save your vision:

  • Blurred vision
  • Impaired colour vision
  • Dark or empty areas in your vision
  • Sudden or total loss of vision
  • Fluctuations in vision
  • Spots/dark strings appear floating
  • Poor night vision

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy:

Diabetic retinopathy can be classified into two types based on its severity:

Early diabetic retinopathy:

  • This is a common form of diabetic retinopathy where the blood vessels in the retina become weak. This is also known as ‘nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy‘ (NPDR).
  • There is no proliferation of new blood vessels in this case.
  • Very small bulges protrude from the walls of the smaller vessels of retina. These tiny bulges might lead to leaking fluid and blood into the retina.
  • One more important factor of this condition is that the nerve fibers in the retina may begin to swell which requires immediate medical help. 

Advanced diabetic retinopathy:

  • An advanced condition also called ‘proliferative diabetic retinopathy’ (PDR). 
  • Here, there is formation of new, abnormal blood vessels due to the closure of the damaged blood vessels in the retina that can leak into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye.
  • This complication eventually damages the optic nerve that carries the image from the eye to the brain further causing glaucoma.

Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy:

  1. The main reason for diabetic retinopathy being the poor control of diabetes, it is highly recommended to keep your diabetes under check to avoid such complications.
  1. Know your blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels to keep further complications like diabetic retinopathy  at bay.
  1. Avoid excessive usage of tobacco
  1. Keep your weight under control by exercising regularly. 
  1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive sugar, salt intake.
  1. Do not overly consume alcohol and restrict your drinks (both men and women)
  1. Observe changes in your vision and contact your doctor immediately when your vision becomes blurry.
  1. Regular eye exercises and eye examinations are a good preventive measure that can help avoid the vision loss. 

Complications:

DR when not treated at the right time may lead to the following complications:

Vitreous hemorrhage:

The abnormal blood vessel which is newly formed leaks into the vitreous gel in the eye, blocking light from reaching the retina. If the retina remains undamaged, then this condition will be resolved naturally.

Detached retina:

This is a complication that may arise if the scar tissue pulls away the retina from the back of the eye. This results in loss of vision if left untreated.

Glaucoma:

Disturbance in the flow of fluid to the eye due to the formation of new blood vessels, resulting in pressure in the eye. This increases the risk of optic nerve damage.

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy:

Following are the most commonly practiced  methods to treat diabetic retinopathy:

Laser treatment

Focal laser treatment, Scatter laser treatment are carried out depending on the severity of the DR (Diabetic Retinopathy). Here, the new blood vessels in the retina are treated and some cases of maculopathy are stabilized.

Eye injections

Eye injections are used to treat severe maculopathy and prevent new blood vessels forming at the back of the eyes.

Eye surgery

Eye surgery or vitrectomy is conducted if laser treatment is not possible. It is conducted to remove the excessive blood or scar tissue from the eye.

All said and done, remember that Diabetic retinopathy is a rare condition and proper management of diabetes can help in the long run preventing complications, protecting your vision and having a healthy, happy life!

Contact Dr Arun Kumar Shah for Best Diabetic Retinopathy doctor in Kalaburagi or check out social media page to know about eye care tips…

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