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Diabetes Steals Sight: The Hidden Threat
15 Aug
Summary
- Diabetic retinopathy damages retina blood vessels, causing vision loss.
- It's the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults.
- Early detection and blood sugar control are crucial for treatment.
August is observed as Eye Health Awareness Month, highlighting conditions like diabetic retinopathy, particularly prevalent in India due to its high diabetes burden.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease stemming from diabetes, recognized as the primary cause of preventable vision loss and blindness among working-age adults globally. Uncontrolled high blood sugar damages retinal blood vessels, leading to swelling, leakage, or closure, and potentially new abnormal blood vessel growth.
This condition progresses through two stages: non-proliferative, where vessels weaken and leak, causing macular edema, and proliferative, a more advanced phase with new, fragile blood vessel growth that can lead to bleeding and retinal detachment.
Symptoms often appear only in advanced stages and can include floaters, blurred vision, faded colors, or blind spots. Risk factors beyond diabetes duration and control include hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking.
Diagnosis involves dilated eye examinations, OCT, and fluorescein angiography. Treatment focuses on blood sugar and blood pressure management. Advanced cases may require injections, corticosteroids, laser surgery, or vitrectomy. Early intervention is key, as some vision damage is irreversible.
