Shedding light on Diabetic eye disease: A call for awareness
Introduction
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) illness that affects how your body uses food as fuel. Although it has a well-known negative impact on blood sugar levels, many people might not be aware of the possible risk it poses to eye health.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic eye disease is a group of eye problems that can affect people with diabetes. These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Eye Problems
- Diabetic retinopathy: One of the main conditions causing vision impairment and eventually irreversible blindness is diabetic retinopathy (DR). Educating oneself on diabetes and associated ocular multiple medical conditions could perhaps help avoid vision loss. It’s caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
The condition can develop in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop this eye complication
- Diabetic macular Edema: It is caused by an accumulation of intraretinal fluid, mainly in the inner and outer plexiform layers, which results in retinal thickening. The hyperpermeability of the retinal vasculature is thought to be the cause. Any level of diabetic retinopathy can have DME.
If treatment for this swelling is not received, it may cause permanent vision loss in addition to distorting vision.
- Cataracts: A cataract is a clouding of the usually clear lens of the eye. Seeing through cloudy lenses is equivalent to looking through a fogged-up or frosty window for those who have cataracts. Cataract-related visual impairments can make it harder to read, drive at night, or read a friend’s expression.
The majority of cataracts progress slowly and don’t initially impair vision. However, cataracts will eventually impair vision over time.
- Glaucoma: The disease known as glaucoma harms the optic nerve in your eye. Usually, it occurs when a buildup of fluid occurs in the front part of the eye. Your eye’s pressure rises as a result of the excess fluid, harming the optic nerve
Factors that can increase your risks of developing diabetic eye disease
There are several factors that can increase your risks of developing diabetic eye disease. These include:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Tobacco use
- Pregnancy
- Not managing your
- blood sugar very well
- Having long term
- diabetes
How Important Awareness Is
Being aware helps you practice different precautionary measures. These measures include: Regular eye checkups, maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes exercising regularly and maintaining a good diet.
Do you have diabetes or know anyone with diabetes? Urge them to get checked
Conclusion
Diabetes has a major side effect called diabetic eye disease, which needs to be recognized and treated. People with diabetes can actively protect their vision by being aware of the risks, leading a healthy lifestyle, and making routine eye exams a priority. Together, let’s raise awareness of diabetic retinopathy and provide individuals who are susceptible with the tools they need to take charge of their eye health.
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