What does diabetes mean to a common man? Sugar? But it's not
that simple. Diabetes is a multi-organ disease that affects
almost all parts of the body simultaneously and eyes are most
commonly affected. The side affects of diabetes can be prevented
or delayed by being in touch with doctors.
Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in preserving good
eyesight throughout life. Sometimes, diabetes may be first
detected by manifestations in the eye like infections, boils,
styes, recurrent redness, mild haziness of vision, double
vision, frequent change of glasses for reading, difficulty in
focusing near or distance, difficulty in driving especially at
night, glare etc. as these signs also appear in established
diabetic patients. In the presence of these suspicious symptoms
or when in doubt it's wise to have detailed eye testing from a
specialist.
The main affect of diabetes on eyes is a matter of concern since
it can cause permanent untreatable blindness - diabetic
retinopathy. In simple terms it means diabetic affects or
deposition on retina of the eye. In early stages diabetic
retinopathy many not have any symptom to warn you of it
happening inside the eye. This can only be detected by detailed,
meticulous examination of the retina. This early detection is
only possible by awareness and understanding of the disease,
regular eye examination, minimum once a year, unless told
otherwise by the eye surgeon, early referrals by diabetologists,
endocrinologists, treating physicians and general doctors, all
of whom need to get their diabetic patients cleared of diabetic
retinopathy, off and on, as they do to rule out other
complications of the disease.
In fact, in this early stage, when there may be just a
thickening of the retina or presence of tiny blood clots due to
diabetes, called CSME, even in the presence of normal 6/6
vision, laser treatment benefits the patient the most. If
diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed at a later stage, it
progresses to severe stage with abundance of hemorrhages,
exudates and fluids and formation of new blood vessels,
ultimately leading to complete blindness due to total bleeding
inside the eye, which requires major eye surgery to retrieve a
little bit of vision that could have been almost 100 percent in
earlier stages.
Uncontrolled diabetes and diet, blood pressure, excess weight
and cigarette smoking are not good associations. It is
absolutely necessary to get your eyes tested when your treatment
is shifted from oral drugs to insulin because the latter can
cause start/worsening of diabetic changes in the retina, and
that too at a fast speed. Diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy
should be carefully monitored. Cataract surgery can worsen the
retinal condition and get it checked immediately after the
surgery. Diabetes can also cause fast maturation of cataract.
