August is eye health awareness month, and a common condition that affects the eye, especially in India, which bears a staggeringly high burden of diabetes , is diabetic retinopathy. Here is all you need to know about it.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by diabetes. When a person has high blood sugar, this can damage the blood vessels in the retina, which is the layer inside the eye that detects light and is critical for vision. The risk increases with uncontrolled diabetes and in people who have had diabetes for a long time. It usually affects both eyes. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: This is the early stage, and many people with diabetes have it. At this stage. At this stage, the blood vessels weaken and swell, sometimes leaking blood and fluid into the retina. If there is a build-up of fluid, or edema, this can cause swelling in the central portion of the retina or macula. This macular edema is a common cause of vision loss. The body may also try to contain the damage, causing the blood vessels to close off. This is known as macular ischemia — as blood cannot reach the macula. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy: This a more advanced stage of the condition. At this stage, since some blood vessels have been closed off, new blood vessels form, to try and supply undernourished parts of the retina — neovascularization. However, these may be fragile and bleed into the vitreous, the clear, gel-like matter between the lens and the retina. Over time, these new blood vessels can also form scar tissue, which can cause the retina to detach from the eye. This stage of the condition is very serious. Once the condition progresses, symptoms may include: floaters, blurred vision, colours appearing faded, dark/empty areas in the field of vision and loss of vision. Risk factors apart from having diabetes for a long time and poorly-controlled blood glucose levels, include hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and smoking among others. Heart disease, coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease are other risk factors. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy depends on how severe the condition is. Good blood sugar control is key to slowing and delaying symptoms. This includes taking prescribed medication, following a diet, and maintaining an optimal weight. This apart, managing blood pressure is also important.
It is the leading cause of vision loss and preventable blindness in working-age adults (20 – 65 years), worldwide. Anyone with any type of diabetes — type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes — can develop diabetic retinopathy.
