Health Care for Eyes

Eyes are one of the major organs of our body, and help us in viewing the colors of the world. However, they also happen to be the most vulnerable part, and can get affected easily by different diseases and illnesses. For instance, diabetes can cause a lot of complications for almost all the organs of the body, but eyes, of course, are on the top of the list.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that

affects the back of the eye. When someone has high and varying blood sugar

levels, the blood vessels in the retina can become irreversibly damaged. This

can lead to loss of vision and eventually blindness. It commonly occurs in both

eyes and most often starts with no visual symptoms. In the early stages, the

walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken. This can cause fluid and blood

to leak into the eye (called the non-proliferative stage), which sometimes

results in blurred vision. It can progress, with fragile new blood vessels

growing within the retina (the proliferative stage), which can rupture easily

and bleed. This can cause a catastrophic drop in vision.

Developing diabetic retinopathy depends on a number of factors:

The duration of diabetes: the longer someone has had diabetes, the more likely they are to get diabetic retinopathy.

Blood sugar levels: when blood sugar levels are consistently high, the chances of diabetic retinopathy developing are high. Once diabetic retinopathy starts, tight control of blood sugars can slow down its progression to vision loss.

Controlling other risk factors: monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure is also important in delaying the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Behavioural change through lifestyle choices – access to and eating healthy food, weight control, regular exercise and quitting smoking – helps control these risk factors.

Most people with diabetic retinopathy do not have to go blind, however for early detection and treatment to be successful, regular screening for diabetic retinopathy must be integrated into diabetes care, where timely detection, management and referral of diabetic retinopathy are facilitated.

We need to make eye health part of the comprehensive care received by every person with diabetes.

Interesting fact

According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetic retinopathy is the world’s leading cause of blindness in the working age population. And as a result of changing diets and lifestyles, diabetes is becoming a global epidemic.