Now Reading: Diabetic retinopathy can threaten sight before symptoms appear
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Diabetic retinopathy can threaten sight before symptoms appear
Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina’s blood vessels when blood sugar stays high. It can affect people with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes, usually in both eyes, and is a leading…
The Story in Brief
Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina’s blood vessels when blood sugar stays high. It can affect people with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes, usually in both eyes, and is a leading cause of vision loss and preventable blindness among working-age adults worldwide. Early disease may show no symptoms. Later signs include floaters, blurred or faded vision, dark areas and sight loss.
The condition can progress from leaking or blocked vessels to fragile new vessels, bleeding and retinal detachment. An eye examination with pupil dilation can detect it, with scans or dye tests used when needed. Treatment depends on severity and includes blood sugar and blood pressure control, injections, laser treatment or vitrectomy. Some damage cannot be fully reversed, making regular eye checks important.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy claim that blurred vision is the first warning is unsafe, since early diabetic retinopathy may have no symptoms. The opposite claim, that diagnosis automatically means blindness, is also wrong. Better control of blood sugar and blood pressure can slow the disease, while advanced cases have treatment options. The practical test is whether people with diabetes receive regular dilated eye examinations before sight changes begin.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
