Four major eye conditions can occur as a direct result of diabetes. This is why dealing with eye problems as a person with diabetes is never easy. What’s even worse is that sometimes there are no symptoms, which can make eye diseases hard to detect.
Paying close attention to warning signs as a diabetic can help you prevent major damage in some cases. Seeking a diagnosis as soon as something feels off is also a good idea. Because eye-related problems are common among diabetics, it’s never okay to put off a check-up.
Diabetic Retinopathy and DME
These two conditions are common with all types of diabetes. There are no symptoms to speak of, which is why they are so dangerous. They can both lead to complete loss of vision.
There are a few things you can do to detect them in the early stages. Visual acuity testing, tonometry, and OCT are the best examination tools. Doctors will be able to notice if there is any macula swelling, blood vessel leakage, or nerve tissue damage.
If detected at an early stage, treatments for both DME and diabetic retinopathy have a higher chance of success. Focal macular laser surgery, corticosteroids injections and anti-VEGF therapy are the available treatment options, depending on how far along the disease has advanced.
Cataract and Glaucoma
Dealing with eye problems as a diabetic is a bit easier if you are suffering from cataract or glaucoma. For either condition, the treatment is less invasive and the recovery period shorter. Keep in mind that although these two eye diseases are commonly treated, they can lead to vision loss if left unchecked.
The first thing any person with diabetes should do after receiving a diagnosis is to start treatment. Putting off taking care of your diabetes is what creates the perfect environment for eye diseases to appear.
