Diabetes: main cause of blindness among adults

Diabetes mellitus and obesity common in developed countries. However, with lifestyle deterioration, these problems are on the rise even in developing countries!

A study reveals that India has an estimated 35 million diabetics. The incidence of diabetes in urban India has increased 20 times in the past 20 years. Another startling revelation is that over 50 percent cases of diabetes in rural India and 30 percent in urban areas go undiagnosed.

Diabetes leads to multiple program like diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. One of the most feared complications of diabetes is damage of the eye. This fear is justified, since nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime.

A diabetic person is at the risk of getting the following eye problems: cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime.

A cataract is a clouding of that eye’s lens. Studies shows that a person with diabetes is twice as likely to get a cataract as someone who does not have the disease. Cataracts also develop at an early age in people with diabetes. Usually cataract surgery restores the vision of the patient.

Glaucoma may also become a problem for those with diabetes. Glaucoma starts with an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that can lead to the optic nerve damage and loss of vision. A diabetic is nearly twice at the risk of getting glaucoma than other adults. The visual damage because of glaucoma is irreversible. Therefore, its detection in early stages is important. Glaucoma may be treated with medications, laser or other forms of surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy develops when the tiny blood vessels which provide oxygen to the retina become damaged. Retina damage happens slowly. The longer the person has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy.

Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a long way without symptoms. Without an eye check-up, most people are unaware that they have eye damage.

When sigh occur they may include blurred or double vision, dark or floating spots, pain in one or both eyes, trouble seeing things out of the corner of the eyes, rings, flashing lights or blank spots. These usually happen with the advance stage of the disease. Detecting retinopathy in early stage is best way to prevent vision loss. Do not wait for symptoms.

LASER treatment is advised in various stages of diabetic retinopathy. It reduces the risk of severe vision loss by 60 percent. Laser, however, typically cannot restore vision that has already been lost.

Awareness about the diabetic eye problems and the need for daily routine examination to detect them at an early stage are important. Keeping one’s blood glucose and blood pressure readings as close to normal as possible and getting regular eye check-ups done are the best defenses against the diabetic eye diseases.

If you have diabetes, get a detailed eye examination at least one year and more often, as per your eye specialist’s opinion, if you have diabetic retinopathy.