What problems are connected with diabetic retinopathy?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 50-year-old male diagnosed with diabetes, and I have recently been informed about the possibility of diabetic retinopathy. I am concerned about the impact of diabetes on my eyes and vision. Could you please explain what diabetic retinopathy is, the potential symptoms I should be aware of, and the recommended screening and preventive measures to protect my eye health? Additionally, if diabetic retinopathy is detected, what are the available treatment options to manage it or slow down its progression? Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Long-term diabetes (results in too much sugar circulating in the blood) can have many complications, like diabetic retinopathy (a condition of the eye that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes), cataracts (the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy), peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage that causes weakness, numbness, and pain, usually in your hands and feet), etc. I suggest keeping blood sugar in a normal range is the primary goal to prevent these complications. Diabetic retinopathy can have symptoms like blurred vision, color vision impairment, or CVD (color blindness or a condition that decreases the ability to see color or differences in color), floaters (spots in the vision), and even blindness (inability to see).

Treatment of this condition is primarily to control blood sugar levels; medications like steroids, growth factors, and surgical treatment like laser surgery are a few of the options available.

I hope this helps.

Please revert in case of further queries.

Thank you.