HUMAN EXPERIENCE / WELLBEING
With regular eye exams
have great eyesight
With a detailed eye examination and OCT analysis, anyone with diabetes can preserve their vision and avoid the consequences of diabetic retinopathy.
PLX Academy · Oct, 2021
About 8 million Americans have diabetic retinopathy. The number is expected to double in 2050, according to the American Association of Corneal Specialists, on the occasion of the month of awareness of eye diseases caused by diabetes: November.
The disease occurs as a consequence of diabetes. Damage to blood vessels in the retina occurs, and often vision loss or blindness. Half of the people with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy.
“With new technologies that enable early detection of the disease and advances in treatment, we are entering a new era in which no one with diabetes has to suffer the catastrophic consequences of diabetic retinopathy,” said ASRS President Dr. Philip Ferrone.
“With greater awareness of the condition, including the risk factors and symptoms that occur, anyone with diabetes can get accurate information on how to maintain vision,” Dr. Philip Ferrone added.
Everyone with diabetes – including type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes – is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. The longer the disease lasts, the greater the risk. Other risk factors include: irregular blood sugar control, high blood pressure, kidney disease, high cholesterol and pregnancy.
Many people have diabetic retinopathy long before the first symptoms appear. When symptoms occur, vision is severely impaired. Symptoms include blurred or distorted vision, difficulty reading, spots or flies in the visual field, shadows in the visual field, eye pressure, difficulty recognizing colors. A detailed eye examination should be performed immediately after the onset of the symptoms.
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include, intravitreal injections, laser treatments and surgery. The disease can be prevented by regular monitoring of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, weight maintenance, regular treatment, regular eye examinations, smoking cessation and physical activity.
“Focusing on healthy lifestyle habits and regular detailed ophthalmological examinations are extremely important for maintaining vision in diabetics. All the important information we have about this disease should not be overlooked,” says Ferrone.