TO MONITOR YOUR VISION CLOSELY
Having diabetes can be a difficult situation to handle. You're always thinking about meal plans, glucose levels, and insulin or medications. And a new concern has been added: Your eyes. No matter which type of diabetes you have, you may develop diabetic retinopathy in your eyes.
A Hidden Condition
Even though you have diabetic retinopathy in your eyes, you may not have it. Did you know that you might not know about it? Diabetic retinopathy may begin without symptoms. It may also get worse over time, causing some or all of your vision to deteriorate. Because you have diabetes, you may have retinopathy now or it may develop over time. Factors that increase the risk of this condition are:
-
Duration of diabetes
-
High blood sugar level
-
High blood pressure
-
Family history, smoking
You may not know that you have diabetic retinopathy in your eyes. However, your ophthalmologist can detect this condition by using special tools to see inside your eye, and when diabetic retinopathy is detected, only your doctor can protect your vision by monitoring and treating it.
PROTECT YOUR EYES
You can protect and preserve your vision in various ways.
– Keep your diabetes under control.
– Learn how diabetes can affect your eyes.
– Regularly Have eye examinations at regular intervals.
– Follow your ophthalmologist's treatment plan.
DIABETES AND YOUR EYES
Diabetes disease It can weaken your body's blood vessels. Because the blood vessels in your retina are small and delicate, they can become weakened and damaged. This problem is called diabetic retinopathy and can lead to vision loss.
UNHEALTHY BLOOD VESSELS
If you have retinopathy, the vessels in your eye may undergo a number of changes. These changes:
-
Bleedings as small as the tip of a pin (initial)
-
Leakage from small vessels (capillaries) (Stage 1)
-
Ti of the veins bleeding (2nd stage)
-
It is the formation of new vessels that are weak and can bleed easily on their own (3rd stage).
The formation of one of these changes may trigger the formation of the other.
Leaky blood vessels: Fluid may leak out of balloons called microaneurysms formed in the walls of thin blood vessels. This can lead to swelling near the fovea (macular edema) and leaves behind fluid residues. These residues are usually fatty elements in the blood and appear as yellow colored accumulations.
Clogged blood vessels:If there is not enough oxygen in the fovea, small blood vessels may become blocked. This creates white patches (like cotton wool) on the oxygen-starved retina, which are best visualized with retinal fluorescein angiography (the darker areas in the image).
Formation of new abnormal blood vessels: Weak new blood vessels may form after some small vessels become blocked. In this case, it is necessary to quickly apply laser to the parts of the retina other than the yellow spot. These new vessels can easily cause spontaneous bleeding. These bleedings can lead to sudden vision loss. These vessels cause the formation of some membranes on the surface of the retina over time, which can cause the retina to detach from its place due to traction (tractional retinal detachment-image) as a result of shrinkage of these membranes. This situation requires an operation we call vitreoretinal surgery. If these vessels begin to form in the front part of the eye, it can increase eye pressure and cause glaucoma that is difficult to control, resulting in a painful eye that cannot see if left untreated.
TYPES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
There are many types of diabetic retinopathy. The most common types are proliferative and non-proliferative retinopathy. In non-proliferative retinopathy, blood vessels become leaky and subsequently blocked. In the proliferative type, abnormal, bleeding-prone, new blood vessels are formed.
NON-PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
If you have a non-proliferative diabetic Retinopathy may be present. This means the retinal vessels may have small leaks, blockage, or a combination of the two.
Your ophthalmologist will tell you which type of retinopathy you have. Make sure you understand the disease and its treatment.
PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
If you have had diabetes for a long time, you may have proliferative retinopathy. Weak new vessels may develop in your retina and problems occur.
Small vessels become blocked. It prepares the stage for new vessel formation.
Serious Bleeding: causes sudden loss of vision.
Separation of the Retina with Retractions: New vessels and scar tissue grow from the retina to the vitreous, the vitreous may pull and separate the retina. It causes serious vision loss and requires surgery.
On the left is advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy before surgery, and on the right is the postoperative view.
EVALUATION OF YOUR EYES
Diabetic Retinopathy can worsen without much warning. Regular eye exams help your doctor find eye problems before your vision deteriorates. Your doctor and medical staff will take your medical history, measure your vision, and evaluate your health. This helps them determine whether you have diabetic retinopathy, what type it is, and the treatment that is best for you.
Recording your history
Your doctor will ask you about:
>– How long have you had diabetes?
– How do you follow up?
– Does anyone else in your family have this disease?
– Are you receiving any treatment?
– Do you have any other eye disease?
Measurement of your vision
The goal of your eye examination is to measure your vision. Your eye doctor may measure your vision with a vision chart or other special instruments. If you have a correctable vision problem, your doctor may prescribe glasses or contact lenses.
Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy
It dilates your pupil so your doctor can see the inside of your eye better. Medicines can be dripped. Your doctor will then perform some tests to see if you have diabetic retinopathy or other eye problems.
Biomicroscope gives an enlarged view of the inside of your eye. Your doctor retinop It will look for signs of other eye problems, such as arthritis or cataracts.
Ultrasoundrecords the shape of the inside of your eye using sound waves. Your doctor may use this test if he cannot see your retina due to bleeding.
Fluorescein angiography
It is an enlarged photo of your retina. It helps record changes in the blood vessels of your retina and classify your condition. The first angiography can be taken at the first examination. Further angiograms may be performed later to see the progression of retinopathy. These help your doctor plan treatment.
Before this test, a dye is given through a vein in your arm. This dye travels to your retina and illuminates the blood vessels. The dye leaves your body after a few hours. Until then, you shouldn't be worried if your skin, eyes and urine are bright yellow for a short time.
After the tests
When your tests are finished, your doctor will discuss your results with you. Your doctor will also discuss controlling your diabetes, periodic eye exams, and the treatment you need.
CONTROLLING YOUR DIABETES
No one is sure what causes Diabetic Retinopathy. . However, controlling diabetes can slow the progression of retinopathy. People responsible for our health can help you monitor your blood sugar level and blood pressure and plan your diet and exercise program.
Check your blood sugar
Possible damage to your blood vessels. The reason is high blood sugar. Studies have shown that blood sugar control reduces the risk of eye problems related to diabetes.
Keep your blood sugar under control by:
– Have your blood sugar measured regularly
– If necessary Use insulin or oral therapy.
– Follow the meal plan.
Since diabetic retinopathy may still worsen, you need to be checked by your doctor periodically.
Blood check your pressure
Many diabetic patients have high blood pressure. blood pressure control Troll may prevent retinopathy from getting worse. Work with your general doctor to control your blood pressure with medication and an appropriate nutrition plan, if necessary.
Eat healthy
Your nutritional plan helps keep your blood sugar levels low. Work with your healthcare team to plan healthy meals. These meals should contain high amounts of complex carbohydrates (starches, vegetables, fruits, grain products) and low amounts of simple carbohydrates (sugary foods) and salt.
Exercise frequently
One way to keep blood sugar low is to exercise. Try briskly walking, cycling, or swimming (for at least twenty minutes) once a day. Talk to your healthcare team about the exercise program that is best for you.
REGULAR EYE EXAMINATION
Diabetic Retinopathy and other eye problems can occur without warning and progress rapidly. Be examined by your ophthalmologist regularly. Your doctor can detect and treat these problems before your vision decreases.
Keep your eye on retinopathy
See your ophthalmologist at least once a year to check for diabetic retinopathy. If you have retinopathy, you will need to visit your eye doctor many times throughout the year. Your doctor can tell you if your condition is getting worse and provide treatment. If you have vision problems such as blurriness or black lines, contact your eye doctor immediately. If you are planning to become pregnant, be aware that pregnancy increases the risk of retinopathy. Be sure to have an eye examination before pregnancy and come for follow-up once every trimester (every three months).
Monitoring other eye problems
There are many eye diseases that can be treated other than retinopathy in people with diabetes. problems (cataract, glaucoma, etc.) may develop:
Cataract is the clouding of your intraocular lens, blurring your vision. The lens that has become cloudy after cataract surgery is replaced with a new artificial lens. However, it is necessary to think carefully before deciding on cataract surgery in eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Because this surgery may lead to the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma is the condition of increased pressure inside the eye.
Read: 0
