A new study published in the Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice revealed that diabetic retinopathy which damages the tiny blood vessels in retina is the leading cause of preventable blindness globally. Know why early screening is crucial to guard your vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Vision plays a crucial role in every facet and stage of our lives. Sadly, about 2.2 billion people globally suffer from near or distant vision impairment. Several factors contribute to this condition, and one of them is due to a high blood sugar level.
A new study published in the Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice revealed that diabetic retinopathy which damages the tiny blood vessels in retina is the leading cause of preventable blindness globally.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a progressive microvascular complication that is common in people who are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This medical complication damages the tiny blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye called retina.
Researchers claim that diabetic retinopathy affects approximately one-third of individuals with diabetes. The study states, “DR results from chronic hyperglycemia-induced damage to retinal capillaries, leading to increased vascular permeability, ischemia, and neovascularization.”
Symptoms Of Diabetic Retinopathy
According to experts, most people do not show any symptoms at the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. However, as the complication worsens people may experience:
- Having blurry vision
- Changes in vision from blurred to clear
- Black or dark empty areas in their vision
- Poor night vision
- Dark strings floating in their sight which are known as floaters
- Vision loss
Importance Of Early Screening
A study from Yale Medicine suggests that damage caused to the eye from diabetic retinopathy generally happens even before any vision problems appear which is why annual eye exams are important.
Kristen Nwanyanwu, Yale Medicine ophthalmologist, MD, MBA, claims that vision impairment from diabetic retinopathy is largely preventable. Therefore, “If you have diabetes, you need to have your eyes screened. Even if you are seeing well, you can still have damage from diabetes in your eyes.”
Explaining about the treatments available for diabetic retinopathy, she said, “The first treatments for diabetic retinopathy were identified more than 40 years ago and they’ve only gotten better. We now have options ranging from laser treatments to medications injected into the eye. The challenge is that the disease can progress quietly, so it’s crucial that people see their medical provider at the right time.”
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