Do you know that diabetes mellitus can cause blindness? Most of us not aware of this problem. But don’t worry as this outcome is avoidable if the right care is taken.
One preventive measure is to take retinal photographs once a year so that their doctors can easily detect early signs of eye damage. Diabetes causes vision loss by damaging the retina, an important nerve layer in the eye.
Retinal damage from diabetes does not give rise to any eyesight problems at first. However, as the disease worsens, symptoms such as a blurring, distortion and floaters will eventually appear.
|DIABETES POSSIBLE COMPLICATION |
There is often serious damage to the retina by the time patients notice anything wrong with their vision. So, that’s the reason why diabetes patient must take retinal photographs as doctor can diagnose diabetic retinopathy by viewing the retina directly or by reviewing photographs of the retina.
Bleeding, fatty deposits, abnormal blood vessels or scar tissue in the eye are indications of diabetec damage. If abnormalities are serious, treatment should be given promptly.
Effective treatments include retinal laser photocoagulation, injections of medications and surgery. It depend on the disease situation. Successful treatment can stabilise or at least markedly slow down- retinal damage and prevent progression to blindness. Nevertheless, it cannot restore the retina to normal.
Everyone with diabetes should have routine screening for diabetic retinopathy instead of waiting until eyesight problems appear. Screening for diabetic retinopathy can be done either by the primary doctor treating the diabetes or by an ophtahalmologist (an eye specialist doctor).
Retinal photographs are taken quickly and painlessly – in flash, literally using a fundus camera. Patients without eyesight symptoms are ideal candidates for diabetic retinopathy screening using retinal photography. Other’s who have vision problems should see an ophtalmologist for a complete eye check instead.
Remember, preserving your vision starts with an eye examination once a year even if you do not notice any problems with your eyesight.
– StarsFitLife