How Does Diabetes Damage Your Eyesight? This is one of the most common causes of blindness in our society [EXPLAINED]

In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.

Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.

According to estimates, the current number of adults with type 2 diabetes in the world is 462 million and will continue to grow. In 2040, it could be as high as 642 million, which means that one in 10 people will have diabetes. The biggest problem seems to be the fact that even 179 million people do not know that they have diabetes. They can find out about it, for example during an appointment with an ophthalmologist. How it’s possible?

Diabetes symptoms that your ophthalmologist may notice

About 2,5 million people suffer from diabetes in Poland. While another 30 percent. patients are not yet diagnosed with diabetes. Meanwhile symptoms of diabetes seem difficult to overlook. These include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, fatigue and energy disturbances, numbness in the hands and feet, and vision problems.

The latter symptom is the reason why diabetes can be diagnosed by, for example, ophthalmologists. People who have constantly high blood glucose levels may complain of blurred vision.

Vision problems that you may be concerned about:

  1. recurring infections,
  2. inflammation of the edges of the eyelids,
  3. recurrent hail and barley,
  4. blurred vision.

If they go to the doctor with this problem, he may refer the patient for further diagnosis to confirm diabetes.

– The eyeball reacts to fluctuations in the level of glucose in the body. Thus, the very first fluctuations in glycaemia affect important optical elements, such as the cornea, tear film or the lens. Unstable vision, changes in refraction towards small disadvantages in a generally healthy person are the first signals that for an experienced ophthalmologist will be the basis for a very in-depth examination, precisely in terms of diabetic changes – explains Dr. Anna Maria Ambroziak, Medical and Scientific Director of the Ophthalmology Center The world of the eye.

A visit to an ophthalmologist can therefore be the first step in a diagnosis of pre-diabetes or diabetes. With regular visits to an ophthalmologist, abnormalities in the anterior segment of the eye can be seen before the irreversible changes in the retina occur.

The most common eye diseases in diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and, if left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, including blindness.

– Maintaining a high blood glucose level can also severely damage the structure of the eye. Changes in the tiniest vessels at the fundus of the eye in the retina often lead to a complication of diabetic retinopathy and associated macular edema (DME), which in turn leads to blindness – emphasizes prof. Marek Rękas, national consultant in the field of ophthalmology, Head of the Ophthalmology Clinic of the Military Medical University.

  1. See also: What are the first symptoms of glaucoma?

Diabetic retinopathy is common among diabetics. According to data, 1 in 3 people with diabetes develop and there is this disease the most common cause of blindness among people between the ages of 20 and 65. The disease damages the blood vessels in the retina of the eye. The disease is often asymptomatic in the initial stage. Only in the field of vision does a dark spot appear, which may be absorbed after a few weeks and vision returns to normal. Ignored can lead to severe visual impairment.

important

Complications of untreated diabetes include disturbed kidney function, damage to the sensory nerves, damage to the retina of the eye, deep and non-healing wounds, painful muscle spasms, atherosclerosis, and blindness.

Other symptoms that may appear in diabetic retinopathy it means poor vision in the dark, blurred vision, swelling of the retina, longer time for the eye to adapt to seeing in a bright room. Laser treatment is required for advanced retinopathy. In the case of mild lesions, it is recommended to monitor the blood glucose level and frequent checkups with an ophthalmologist.

Untreated diabetes mellitus can also lead to complicated cataracts, diabetic vitreopathy (disorders of the vitreous body), diabetic choroidopathy and diabetic neuropathy.

Prophylaxis will help detect diabetes

Regular visits to an ophthalmologist may contribute to the early detection of diabetes. Every adult should visit an ophthalmologist every two years, and once a year after the age of 40. People with visual impairments should also see an ophthalmologist at least once a year.

Preventive visits to an ophthalmologist are essential to monitor your eyesight. Especially for people working in front of a computer monitor or for genetic reasons exposed to eye diseases. You can book an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Medonet Market.

In the case of people diagnosed with diabetes, visits to the ophthalmologist should take place every six months, and sometimes even quarterly. Constant ophthalmic control can prevent serious complications of diabetes in the eye.

The editorial board recommends:

  1. More deaths from diabetes. “Caring for patients with diabetes in Poland requires urgent improvement”
  2. Diabetes is with me around the clock
  3. Pre-diabetes – watch out
  4. The disease of our time. There are many myths about it, and what is it really like?

Leave a Reply