Diabetic Retinopathy: Signs and Treatment. What Doctors Forget to Tell!
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in people who are diabetic. It is caused due to high blood pressure and if proper treatment is not provided it can lead to blindness. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients are at risk of developing this condition. Individuals who are diabetic and have the habit of smoking are also at higher risk.
There are tiny blood vessels in the retina and individuals with high blood sugar are most likely to get affected. In the early stages of the disease the blood vessels will start leaking fluid and your sight will get affected. In the advanced stage there will be growth of new blood vessels around the retina. These blood vessels will start bleeding if they are not treated and it can lead to blindness.
Individuals who have severe diabetics for a prolonged period of time are also at high risk. Apart from this people suffering from diabetics for more than thirty years are also likely to get diabetic retinopathy. You would be able to minimize the risk of damage to the retina if you keep the blood sugar levels normal.
If you are diabetic, it is important that you are aware of the various signs and symptoms of the disease. This will help in early treatment and prevent blindness.
1. There are often no visible signs of the disease and you will be totally unaware about it till it reaches the advanced stage. Most of the signs are only visible in the advanced stage and this makes it hard to detect.
2. You might experience difficulty while reading or driving due to blurred vision.
3. You will also lose the ability to see color clearly. Seeing clearly in the night will also get affected.
4. Apart from this you might also have small spots or floaters in the eye. This can occur when the blood vessels start leaking.
If you experience any one of these symptoms, it would be advisable to consult your physician for early detection and treatment. Individuals who are diabetic will need to have regular eye exams to detect any early signs of the disease. If the disease has reached an advanced stage, you might require surgery to prevent further damage.
There are also various medications that are prescribed by the eye doctor to help prevent the blood vessels from growing abnormally. If you keep your blood sugar level under control, you would be able to prevent diabetic retinopathy easily.
