The impact of diabetes on eye health
Research has clearly shown blindness caused by diabetes is preventable with early diagnosis, proper risk factor control and timeous treatment.
In South Africa, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions with a prevalence of 11% in adults.
The loss of vision owing to diabetic eye complications is on the rise.
Diabetes mellitus may cause a reversible, temporary blurring of vision, or can cause a severe, permanent loss of vision.
One of the serious complications of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy – the most common cause of visual loss among working-age individuals in the country and one of the leading causes of blindness.
Touching on the topic is Ballito-based eye specialist, Dr Bhavna Jugadoe.
“Diabetic retinopathy is often permanent or only partly reversible, and therefore more urgent to treat timeously,” she said.
It can be asymptomatic in its early stages.
Diabetic retinopathy refers to damage to the small blood vessels in the retina which may begin to “balloon”, leak fluid and bleed into the retina.
“New blood vessels that are leaky and fragile may then begin to grow, leading to bleeding inside the eye and usually resulting in severe vision loss,” said Jugadoe.
Dark floating spots begin to appear leading to scarring of the retina, and if left untreated vision loss may become permanent.
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include the duration of diabetes, poor blood sugar control, hypertension, renal disease and high cholesterol.
“All diabetic patients must have a dilated eye examination at least once a year to detect and treat complications in the eye.”
Research has clearly shown blindness caused by diabetes is preventable with early diagnosis, proper risk factor control and timeous treatment.
According to Dr Jugadoe, treatment options include laser therapy, intravitreal injections and surgical treatment for advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy.
“Intravitreal injections deliver medication into the back of the eye near the retina and are new treatments that have shown promise not only in preserving vision, but also in improving it.”
However, the ideal treatment is primary prevention with lifestyle modifications such as a healthy diet and exercise, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol control, stopping smoking and annual screening for the disease.
Contact Dr Bhavna Jugadoe at 032 004 0064 or find her at Ribumed Day Hospital, The Odyssey, 1 Simbithi Drive, Ballito.
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