Diabetic eyes also have a higher risk of developing glaucoma and iritis which area all potentially sight threatening conditions.
When the blood sugar level in the diabetic
person fluctuates, so does the power of his glasses. These changes are
temporary and should stabilise with the control of blood sugar. It is unwise
to change the glasses during these blood sugar fluctuations.
Lasers are used to create accurately
placed microscopic burns in the retina .This treatment is called
photocoagulation In early visual loss due to leakage of blood vessels called
the maculopathy the focal leakage is checked to some extent by laser burns.
In th more severe type of diabetic retinopathy called the "proliferative
diabetic retinopathy" many spots of tiny laser burns are given all over
the perepheral retina. By ablating the perepheral retina the aim is to
keep the central retina , the macula ,clear of the disease process.
The laser burns in photocoagulation
are so microscopic that they cause very little pain, at most a discompfort
or ache. It is an outpatient procedure and does not require hospitalisation
Diabetics often develop cataract which
progress rapidly. In the absence of diabetic retinopathy the cataract is
managed in the same way as in other cataracts.However, for visual loss
due to internal haemorrhage called vitreous haemorrhage, which does not
resolve itself over a 3 to 4 months period of time, vitreoretinal surgery
is indicated to remove the clotted blood from inside the eye. This is often
combined with endophotocoagulation. However, such cases might develop re
bleed or might have poor visual recovery due to other concomitant intraocular
damage such as an advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
The single most important preventive factor in diabetic eye disease is to maintain the blood sugar in the acceptable limits. Periodic routine eye checkup and laser photocoagulation in selected cases are also preventive excercises.