Diabetes is known to be a silent killer and affects a number of organs of the human body, including the eyes. Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma are some of the eye diseases that may affect people with Diabetes during the course of their life. . CataractCataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts cause half of all cases of blindness and thirty-three per cent of visual impairment worldwide. Cataracts are one of the earliest complications of Diabetes and one of the most common causes of visual impairments in people with Diabetes.Symptoms of catarads• Clouded, blurred or dim vision• Increasing difficulty with vision at night• Sensitivity to light and glare• Need for brighter light for reading and other activities• Seeing "halos" around lights• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription• Fading or yellowing of colours• Double vision in a single eyeA number of studies have suggested that certain habits may reduce the risk factors of developing cataracts. They are:• Having regular eye examinations which can help detect cataracts and other eye problems early• Quitting smoking• Managing other health problems• Choosing a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables• Wearing sunglasses• Reducing alcohol intake• Ensuring adequate intake of antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C and E• Managing Ultra Violet B (UVB) exposure• Taking Diabetes medicines as prescribed by the doctor regularlyDiabetic RetinopathyDiabetic retinopathy affects almost up to eighty per cent of people who have had Diabetes for over twenty years. It is a medical condition which affects the retina. There is damage to the blood vessel to the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is reportedly the leading cause of blindness.Diabetic retinopathy can be of two types:• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy - It is milder and is mostly symptomless• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy - It is more advanced and serious stage with the growth of excess and abnormal blood vessels in the retina, causing the retina to leak fluid and cause bleeding inside the eye.There are almost no symptoms at the early stage of the disease. The symptoms when they occur affect both the eyes. They become noticeable at the more advanced stage with sudden and complete loss of vision being the only detectable symptom in certain cases. Some other symptoms include:• Blurry vision• Weakened colour vision• Poor night-time vision• Streaks or patches impairing the individual's visionDiabetic retinopathy usually affects those who have been affected by Diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed) for a significant number of years. However, the risk of developing this condition is greater in case of high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure levels, high cholesterol, in pregnancy and if the person is a smoker.In the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels can be completely blocked, leading the eye to thenproduce excess and abnormal blood vessels. These new vessels break easily and leak fluid causing blurry patches of vision. This bleeding, on occasion, may be accompanied by tractional forces that canseparate the retina and the eye, leading to a detached retina. As symptoms develop, a person with diabetic retinopathy becomes increasingly likely to experience complete vision loss.For a person with Diabetes, the risk of developing the advanced stages can be reduced by doing the following:• Frequent eye check-ups• Managing blood sugar levels• Taking a glycosylated haemoglobin test where the goal is to keep the A1C below 7 per cent• Quitting the use of tobacco• Paying close attention to any vision changesGlaucomaGlaucoma is a medical condition that affects the optic nerve of an individual's eyes and gets worse over time. It leads to build-up of pressure inside the eyes. It is often considered to be an inherited condition and may not show up until later in life. Glaucoma is of two types:• Open-angle which is the most commontype• Angle-closure which is a medical emergency and must be treated immediatelyIf one is above the age of forty, has Diabetes and has a family history of the disease, a complete eye exam is recommended. Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain. Regulareye check-up can help in getting diagnosed and treated early. Both open-angle and angle-closure have completely different symptoms.Symptoms of open-angle are:• Slow or peripheral loss of vision, mostly in both eyes• Tunnel vision in the advanced stages Symptoms of angle-closure are:• Severe eye pain• Nausea and vomiting (accompanying the severe eye pain)• Sudden onset of visual disturbance, often in low light• Blurred vision• Halos around lights• Reddening of the eyeAlthough there is no way to prevent Glaucoma, having it diagnosed early means it can be treated better and more effectively. Medical experts also recommend a healthy lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise and a nutritious diet. Some ways by whichglaucoma maybe prevented are:• Maintaining a healthy weight.• Keeping blood pressure at a normal level and controling other medical conditions.• Not smoking• Limiting caffeine intake to moderate levels, because some evidence suggests that high amounts of caffeine may increase eye pressure.• Trying to exercise daily by doing physical activities such as walking or swimming.• Getting regular, comprehensive eye exams, and consult your doctor if you notice changes in your vision.Diabetes can affect a person's sight in an adverse manner and so it is important that people who have Diabetes plan regular check-ups to prevent diabetic eye disease or at least keep it from getting worse. Dr Saptorshi Majumdar MBBS, MD-Ophthalmology (Al/MS) is a Consulting Ophthalmologist at Department of Vitreo Retinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata
Diabetes is known to be a silent killer and affects a number of organs of the human body, including the eyes. Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma are some of the eye diseases that may affect people with Diabetes during the course of their life. . CataractCataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts cause half of all cases of blindness and thirty-three per cent of visual impairment worldwide. Cataracts are one of the earliest complications of Diabetes and one of the most common causes of visual impairments in people with Diabetes.Symptoms of catarads• Clouded, blurred or dim vision• Increasing difficulty with vision at night• Sensitivity to light and glare• Need for brighter light for reading and other activities• Seeing "halos" around lights• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription• Fading or yellowing of colours• Double vision in a single eyeA number of studies have suggested that certain habits may reduce the risk factors of developing cataracts. They are:• Having regular eye examinations which can help detect cataracts and other eye problems early• Quitting smoking• Managing other health problems• Choosing a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables• Wearing sunglasses• Reducing alcohol intake• Ensuring adequate intake of antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C and E• Managing Ultra Violet B (UVB) exposure• Taking Diabetes medicines as prescribed by the doctor regularlyDiabetic RetinopathyDiabetic retinopathy affects almost up to eighty per cent of people who have had Diabetes for over twenty years. It is a medical condition which affects the retina. There is damage to the blood vessel to the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is reportedly the leading cause of blindness.Diabetic retinopathy can be of two types:• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy - It is milder and is mostly symptomless• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy - It is more advanced and serious stage with the growth of excess and abnormal blood vessels in the retina, causing the retina to leak fluid and cause bleeding inside the eye.There are almost no symptoms at the early stage of the disease. The symptoms when they occur affect both the eyes. They become noticeable at the more advanced stage with sudden and complete loss of vision being the only detectable symptom in certain cases. Some other symptoms include:• Blurry vision• Weakened colour vision• Poor night-time vision• Streaks or patches impairing the individual's visionDiabetic retinopathy usually affects those who have been affected by Diabetes (diagnosed or undiagnosed) for a significant number of years. However, the risk of developing this condition is greater in case of high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure levels, high cholesterol, in pregnancy and if the person is a smoker.In the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels can be completely blocked, leading the eye to thenproduce excess and abnormal blood vessels. These new vessels break easily and leak fluid causing blurry patches of vision. This bleeding, on occasion, may be accompanied by tractional forces that canseparate the retina and the eye, leading to a detached retina. As symptoms develop, a person with diabetic retinopathy becomes increasingly likely to experience complete vision loss.For a person with Diabetes, the risk of developing the advanced stages can be reduced by doing the following:• Frequent eye check-ups• Managing blood sugar levels• Taking a glycosylated haemoglobin test where the goal is to keep the A1C below 7 per cent• Quitting the use of tobacco• Paying close attention to any vision changesGlaucomaGlaucoma is a medical condition that affects the optic nerve of an individual's eyes and gets worse over time. It leads to build-up of pressure inside the eyes. It is often considered to be an inherited condition and may not show up until later in life. Glaucoma is of two types:• Open-angle which is the most commontype• Angle-closure which is a medical emergency and must be treated immediatelyIf one is above the age of forty, has Diabetes and has a family history of the disease, a complete eye exam is recommended. Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain. Regulareye check-up can help in getting diagnosed and treated early. Both open-angle and angle-closure have completely different symptoms.Symptoms of open-angle are:• Slow or peripheral loss of vision, mostly in both eyes• Tunnel vision in the advanced stages Symptoms of angle-closure are:• Severe eye pain• Nausea and vomiting (accompanying the severe eye pain)• Sudden onset of visual disturbance, often in low light• Blurred vision• Halos around lights• Reddening of the eyeAlthough there is no way to prevent Glaucoma, having it diagnosed early means it can be treated better and more effectively. Medical experts also recommend a healthy lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise and a nutritious diet. Some ways by whichglaucoma maybe prevented are:• Maintaining a healthy weight.• Keeping blood pressure at a normal level and controling other medical conditions.• Not smoking• Limiting caffeine intake to moderate levels, because some evidence suggests that high amounts of caffeine may increase eye pressure.• Trying to exercise daily by doing physical activities such as walking or swimming.• Getting regular, comprehensive eye exams, and consult your doctor if you notice changes in your vision.Diabetes can affect a person's sight in an adverse manner and so it is important that people who have Diabetes plan regular check-ups to prevent diabetic eye disease or at least keep it from getting worse. Dr Saptorshi Majumdar MBBS, MD-Ophthalmology (Al/MS) is a Consulting Ophthalmologist at Department of Vitreo Retinal Services, Disha Eye Hospitals, Kolkata
