What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a type of eye damage caused by complications of diabetes. It is the primary cause of adult blindness and the most frequent cause of vision loss among diabetics. It occurs when diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye responsible for detecting light and images.
Changes in blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure associated with diabetes can cause these blood vessels to swell, leak fluid, or become completely blocked. If diabetic retinopathy is not treated and controlled properly, it can eventually lead to significant vision loss or permanent blindness.
What symptoms might one expect from diabetic retinopathy?
The most common signs and symptoms associated with diabetic retinopathy fall into three categories:
• The most prevalent sign of diabetic retinopathy is blurred vision. People with diabetic retinopathy may experience blurred vision, blurry vision, or difficulty seeing fine details. • Vision fluctuations: People with diabetic retinopathy may also experience sudden changes in vision, such as dark spots that appear and disappear, flashes of light, or complete loss of vision.
• Eye pain or pressure: Diabetic retinopathy can cause pain or pressure in the eyes due to swelling and fluid buildup in the retina.
What are the possible complications of diabetic retinopathy?
• Vision loss: Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss that can range from mild to severe. The disease can damage the blood vessels in the retina, restrict oxygen supply, and cause swelling in the macula, which can lead to blurred or distorted vision.
• Advanced retinopathy: Blind spots or total blindness are among the severe visual issues that people with advanced diabetic retinopathy may have. This condition can also increase the risk of glaucoma and cataracts, as well as permanent retinal detachment, which can eventually lead to complete blindness.
• Secondary conditions: Other serious conditions that can develop due to diabetic retinopathy include vitreous hemorrhage (bleeding in the eye), neovascularization (abnormal formation of new blood vessels), and neovascular glaucoma (increased pressure on the optic nerve). These secondary conditions can often lead to delayed vision loss or even complete vision loss if not treated promptly and effectively.
12 Important Tips for Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
• Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels: High blood sugar is a major risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy, so it is very important to monitor and maintain blood sugar levels. Try to keep your blood sugar levels above 80 mg/dl with medication and lifestyle changes.
• Monitor your blood pressure: High blood pressure can worsen the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, so it is important to have your blood pressure checked and treated regularly. Take precautions to avoid high blood pressure as it might harm the sensitive structures of the eye!
• Eat a nutritious diet rich in antioxidants: A nutritious diet is essential to prevent the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy from worsening. Eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark green leafy vegetables, berries, colorful vegetables, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds, which can help reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health in people with diabetes.
• Exercise regularly: It is important to stay physically active if you have diabetes – a regular exercise program can help reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy by improving blood sugar control or avoiding obesity, two major risk factors for serious diabetic eye complications. Consider walking regularly or incorporating light aerobic exercise into your daily routine.
• Reduce alcohol intake and quit smoking: Stress, alcohol, and smoking all raise your risk of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, quitting smoking or limiting your alcohol consumption can significantly reduce your risk.
• Wear proper eye protection during activities that can damage your eyes: Activities such as driving for long periods of time, operating dangerous machinery, or playing contact sports can increase your risk of eye injuries, which can lead to vision loss. That’s why you should wear glasses…
