Steps to take for diabetes eye problems.

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause blurred vision, cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy. Many people don't notice vision problems until retinopathy is well advanced. So routine eye testing is important.Diabetic retinopathy is a term used for all abnormalities of the small blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes, such as weakening of blood vessel walls or leakage from the vessels. If you notice any change in your vision, speak with your doctor or eye specialist immediately. Let your doctor know that you have diabetes or hypertension so that they dilate your eyes to view the retina.
To avoid diabetes eye problems, follow these:-


1] Keep your blood sugar levels under tight control.
2] Bring your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure can make eye problems worse.
3]Quit smoking.
4]See your eye specialist at least once a year or more frequently if you have retinopathy, for a dilated eye exam.
5]Visit your eye specialist if you have the following diabetes eye symptoms:-
a]Your vision becomes blurry.gradual vision loss
b]You have trouble reading signs or books.
c]You see double.
d]One or both of your eyes hurt.
e]Your eyes get red and stay that way.
f]You feel pressure in your eye.
g]You see spots or floaters.
h]Straight lines do not look straight.
i]You can't see things at the side as you used to.
j]Difficulty seeing at nighttime
Visit your eye specialist if:-
1]You are between 10 and 29 years old and have had diabetes for at least 5 years, to have a annual dilated eye exam.
2]You are 30 or older, you should have an annual dilated eye exam, no matter how short a period you had diabetes. More frequent exams may be needed if you have eye disease.
3]You have any changes in your vision.
4]You are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you should have a dilated eye exam.
Treatment: The following are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy:
1] Tight control of blood sugar (glucose).
2] Tight comtrol of blood pressure, and cholesterol
3] Stopping smoking.
People with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. However, they should be closely followed-up by an eye doctor.
Treatment usually does not reverse the damage that has already occurred, but it can help keep the disease from getting worse. Once its is noticed that new blood vessels are growing in your retina (neovascularization) or you develop macular edema, treatment is needed.
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy, involves several procedures or surgeries.
PHOTOCOAGULATION:
Here Laser eye surgery is done by which small burns are made in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. It is used to keep vessels from leaking or to get rid of abnormal, fragile vessels.
To treat macular edema Focal laser photocoagulation is used, whereas Scatter laser treatment or panretinal photocoagulation is used to treat a large area of your retina. Often two or more sessions are needed.
A surgical procedure called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment.
 
Raghu Natrajan.