Diabetec Retinopathy

India is on its way to become the Diabetic Capital of the world. India will have the maximum number of diabetics. Supposedly, we are genetically prone to develop diabetes. Urban India to an extent is aware of the disease called diabetes. They know that they have to exercise and reduce sugary and fried food intake to reduce their blood sugar levels. A few are even aware of the fact that diabetes affects the kidneys and nerves, which in turn can lead to kidney failure and pins and needle feelings in our toes and fingers. Unfortunately, very few know that that diabetes affects the eyes too. There are few things that can happen in the eyes due to diabetes. This blog post could get very technical if I start getting into the details and because I don’t want to do that I will simply list out the problems that Diabetes can cause in the eyes and explain a reasonable amount.

For the sake of this post I will talk about three effects that diabetes has on the eyes. 

1) If the sugar level fluctuates then there is a possibility of the glass power changing. The individual with fluctuating sugar levels will come and tell us that the vision is blurring. When we do a glass power check up we notice a change in the power. If the individual were to wear the new glasses he /she would definitely see better, however we never prescribe the new glasses, because this prescription will keep changing and there is really no point in prescribing the glasses. 

2) We all have heard about cataract. As mentioned in my earlier posts cataract is not a disease but an age related change in the lens of the eye. In diabetics, the cataract occurs much earlier than in non diabetic individuals. Thus, diabetics end up getting a cataract surgery much earlier than some others.  

3) Finally, and most importantly diabetes causes what is know as diabetic retinopathy. Let me explain a little bit here. Diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina. Retina, as some of us know is the back most layer of the eye. Once some blood vessels are damaged, the part of the retina which they supply blood too does not receive enough oxygen. Thus, these parts of the retina start suffocating. This suffocation causes some chemicals to be released within the retina which stimulate new blood vessel growth which in turn cause new blood vessels to form. Unfortunately, these blood vessels are abnormal and break easily. Breakage causes bleeding in the eye which causes sudden decrease in vision. In advanced cases it even leads to something known as retinal detachment. 

Most important thing to remember here is that we as doctors can treat diabetic Retinopathy. However, the aim of treatment is not to reverse the damage that has occurred. The aim is only prevent further damage. Imagine if someone looses 30% or 40% of vision and then goes to a doctor and the doctor tells him that whats gone is gone. Treatment consists of injections in the eyes and lasers and also sometimes in advanced cases surgery. Diabetic Retinopathy can be prevented. Every diabetic should get a yearly dilated eye examination.

More important than that control the blood sugar, eat less and exercise some. Tell your friend or a family member who is diabetic to get an eye examination. It may prevent him from becoming blind.