Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious eye disease that can lead to blindness in people with diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
The blood vessels in the eye are very delicate and are often the first to be affected by diabetes. As these vessels can be viewed directly, your optometrist will be able to detect any diabetic related symptoms. Fluctuating or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to small hemorrhages in the back of the eye and possibly result in blindness. The highest non-infectious reason for blindness is due to diabetes.
What Are The Symptoms?
Symptoms of DR include:
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- Blurred or distorted vision
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- Seeing dark spots or floaters
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- Difficulty seeing at night
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- Trouble reading or seeing faraway objects
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- New color blindness or seeing colors as faded
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- Pain or pressure in one or both eyes
- Rings, flashing lights, or blank spots in your vision
If you experienced fluctuating vision (good one day and poor the next) this is an indication you may have diabetes. Another indicator to detect is poor distance vision.
Ways To Reduce Risk Of Diabetic Retinopathy.
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- Manage your diabetes by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and taking your medicine
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- Control your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol
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- Get regular dilated eye exams
- Quit smoking or using other types of tobacco
Treatment can slow or stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but it’s not a cure. You’ll need regular eye exams and might need additional treatment at some point
