Newest Diabetes Information
MONDAY, April 4, 2022
Might an annual eye examination save your sight when you’ve got diabetes? Most undoubtedly, one imaginative and prescient knowledgeable says.
“Diabetes is thought to change the well being of the blood vessels within the retina and these vascular modifications don’t trigger signs within the early levels,” defined Dr. Jeffrey Sundstrom, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist at Penn State Well being Eye Middle in Hershey, Pa.
“It is extraordinarily vital to detect any modifications early so we are able to take steps to forestall vision loss — and the best way to try this is with an annual dilated eye examination,” he mentioned in a Penn State information launch.
With diabetes, the blood vessels within the retina typically develop into leaky, and this may set off a swelling of the macula — the a part of the retina behind the attention that’s accountable for central vision.
“Extreme vision loss from diabetes can happen when irregular blood vessels develop within the retina and into the vitreous — the gel portion of the attention,” Sundstrom mentioned. “These irregular blood vessels can result in bleeding behind the attention and even trigger a kind of retinal detachment. If any of those situations are left untreated, they will result in progressive visible loss and blindness.”
Greater than half of individuals with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, one of many main causes of blindness in america, but fewer than half of diabetes sufferers get annual imaginative and prescient checks.
Pregnant girls with gestational diabetes are additionally in danger for diabetic retinopathy and needs to be seen a number of occasions all through their pregnancy, in response to Sundstrom.
There are a number of remedies if eye problems are found, together with laser remedies and drugs.
In addition to getting an annual dilated eye examination, diabetes sufferers ought to comply with the ABCs to their handle diabetes and decrease their danger for imaginative and prescient loss and different potential issues resembling heart attack and stroke, Sundstrom mentioned.
“Sufferers ought to work with their major care physician to optimize all three of the ABCs, and see their eye care supplier for annual diabetic retinopathy screening exams,” Sundstrom really helpful. “The important thing to sustaining good imaginative and prescient is an efficient relationship with each your major care supplier and your eye physician.”
By managing their ABCs and getting an annual eye examination, most sufferers with diabetes can retain good imaginative and prescient, he mentioned.
Extra data
SLIDESHOW
Type 2 Diabetes: Signs, Symptoms, Treatments See Slideshow
There’s extra on diabetes-related eye issues on the American Diabetes Association.
SOURCE: Penn State Well being, information launch, March 23, 2022
By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
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