Diabetes is a
condition that is caused when blood sugar levels within the body becomes too
high and can affect people of all ages. There are various side-effects of
having diabetes and it is a condition that should be taken seriously and
monitored closely. Looking after your eyes when you have diabetes is vital as
having the condition can cause eye problems, which if not looked after
correctly, can lead to deterioration and potential irreversible eye damage. In
this article I will look at 4 ways diabetes can affect the eyes.
1.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic
retinopathy is probably the most commonly known complication of having diabetes
and must be taken seriously as it can lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy
affects the retina, which is the back of eye. The retina is the part of the eye
that converts the light we see into signals which are sent to the brain via the
optic nerve, this is then processed by the brain into the images that we see.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused when the small blood vessels on your retina
become blocked, leak or grow abnormality due to the high blood sugar levels.
There are 3 types of diabetic retinopathy;
1.
Background diabetic retinopathy - this type is the very early changes to
the retina, it doesn't normally affect sight but must be monitored carefully to
ensure it doesn't become worse.
2.
Diabetic maculopathy - this type is when the background diabetic retinopathy
has developed on or around the macular. The macular is crucial when giving good
vision as it provides central vision. Having diabetic maculopathy can affect
sight.
3.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy - this type is caused when background
diabetic retinopathy become worse. When the blood vessels become damaged or
blocked in a large area by the above two types it causes a reduced supply of
blood to the retina. The body tries to compensate this by growing new vessels
on the retina's surface, but these vessels tend to be very weak and bleed,
which in turn can affect the vision. The bleeding also can cause scarring which
pulls on the retina, this can cause a retinal detachment. While retinal
detachments can be fixed, sometimes this may not be possible, leading to
impaired vision or blindness.
Samer Hamada is a distinguished consultant ophthalmologist and cornea surgeon performing eye surgeries at his practice, Eye Clinic London. With nearly two decades' experience, Mr. Hamada is recognised as a leading expert in the field of cataract, refractive lens exchange (RLE) and corneal surgeries.
Please visit http://eyecliniclondon.com/
Please call 0800 197 8808 for friendly advice and information.
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