This is what people with diabetic retinopathy see like. Keep these measures in mind to protect your eyes from diabetes.
When diabetes is not treated properly, in the long term, it can affect different organs and nerves in the body, among other complications. One of the most common problems is damage to eye health .
So much so that in patients with diabetes, it is very likely that the doctor will recommend accompanying the treatment with a routine eye check-up.
Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the retina, which is the back of the eye, leading to what is known as diabetic retinopathy.
This eye disease should not be underestimated, as specialists suggest that diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of vision loss and even permanent blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy is not exclusive to a type of diabetes, as it can occur in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Furthermore, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, sometimes eye damage is pre-existing before diagnosis.
Diabetes can also cause other eye problems, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular edema.
What does it look like with diabetic retinopathy?
As we explained earlier, diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of blindness in people with diabetes. Hence the importance of regular eye checks and being alert to any changes in vision.
Although diabetic retinopathy does not usually present symptoms until the eye damage is severe, as sometimes the damage to the retina can occur before vision is affected, some of the warning signs that should be paid attention to are:
- 1. Blurred vision.
- 2. Gradual loss of vision over time.
- 3. Floaters.
- 4. Shadows or areas of lost vision.
- 5. Difficulty seeing at night.
How to protect your eyes from diabetes
The only way to protect your eyes from diabetes is through prevention. In this regard, blood sugar level control through the glycosylated hemoglobin A1c test is key.
It is also important for diabetics to monitor their blood pressure and cholesterol levels , as this helps reduce visual loss due to diabetic retinopathy .
But another factor to take into account is to stop smoking : people with diabetes , who are also smokers, have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy .
And, of course, eye check-ups are key: an annual exam with dilated pupils helps protect eye health and prevent blindness .
