Because blood sugar levels in diabetic patients can cause side effects on other organs in the body, the “retina” is one organ that may be affected. As we often hear, “diabetic retinopathy” is a condition that can lead to various eye diseases, and if detected late… it can be severe enough to cause vision loss.
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
- High blood sugar levels
- Having diabetes for a long time
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
- Early stage: There are small spots of bleeding on the retina, but the patient will have no symptoms. At this stage, observe the symptoms and treatment may not be necessary yet.
- Middle stage: Protein leakage occurs in the retina, and abnormal blood vessels grow (this is the preparatory stage before retinal bleeding). The patient still has no symptoms. This stage requires caution before the retinal blood vessels rupture. Laser treatment should be done to prevent bleeding in the eye, which the doctor can detect before symptoms appear.
- Final stage: There is bleeding in the eye, fibrosis, or retinal detachment. This stage causes decreased vision. Treatment depends on the severity, such as injecting medication into the eye or surgery. This depends on the judgment of a retinal specialist ophthalmologist.
Retinal examination methods and post-examination symptoms
- Eye drops are used to dilate the pupils, which takes about half to 1 hour.
- The doctor uses special instruments to examine the retina.
- After the examination, the patient will have slight blurred vision for 4-6 hours and cannot drive or perform tasks requiring vision, but can live normally.
In some cases, if the patient does not want pupil dilation because they drove themselves, special equipment can be used to take preliminary retinal photos. However, this method cannot provide as detailed a view as pupil dilation.
Prevention of diabetic retinopathy
- Control blood sugar levels within the normal range to delay the onset of diabetic retinopathy for more than 10 to 20 years.
- Even if blood sugar is controlled, regular eye examinations by a retinal specialist are necessary because the duration of diabetes increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Complications from diabetic retinopathy
- Cataracts
- Severe glaucoma
- Retinal detachment
Because diabetic retinopathy can cause serious harm, we should not be careless. If diagnosed with diabetes, it is necessary to have an eye examination from the beginning before symptoms appear. Waiting until symptoms occur may be too late, as the severity may reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Retinal examinations should be done thoroughly every 6 months to 1 year as recommended by a retinal specialist ophthalmologist according to each patient’s condition.
