|
Diabetes is
the leading cause of preventable blindness
in America.
Some people with diabetes wake up blind,
without ever having known anything was
wrong -- no pain, no pus, no bloodshot
eyes, no symptoms. A person with diabetes
may have 20/20 vision until the day he or
she suddenly goes blind.
How does this happen? How can we prevent
it?
The eye is like a small camera. The clear
front window lets in light. The clear lens
inside focuses the light, and the delicate
inner lining of the eye, called the
retina, receives the picture like film in
a camera. If any part of the retina is
damaged, it is very likely that some
vision will be lost.
Anyone who develops diabetes early in life
or who has adult-onset diabetes long
enough will have damage to the retina.
Unfortunately, the central part of the
retina is the most prone to early damage;
therefore, the central vision is often
affected.
The damage that occurs inside the eye and
progressively weakens the vision is easy
to understand. The blood vessels become
weak and leak blood, fluid and cholesterol
into the eye. This build-up in the center
of the eye causes blurred vision. The
longer this continues, or the more
advanced the diabetes, the more these
abnormal vessels begin to grow and spread.
These new and abnormal vessels are
fragile. They rupture easily and bleed
without any cause or warning. The eye then
fills with blood, and a person goes blind.
Blood then forms a scar, which may become
permanent. The scar may further pull on
other abnormal vessels or on the retina to
cause a retinal detachment.
Only a medical doctor can spot these
abnormal vessels by looking into the eye
at the retina. Every medical doctor who
treats a diabetic should look into the
eyes at least once or twice a year and
refer that patient to an ophthalmologist.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who
has trained for four years after receiving
his or her medical degree, who specializes
in eye problems, eye surgery and laser
surgery.
Fortunately, the good news is that almost
everyone's vision can be saved, if the
problems are found and treated soon
enough. The treatment consists of laser
light applications to the eye by an
ophthalmologist. The laser seals the
abnormal vessels, spot welds the damage
and shrinks scar tissue.
Because of this new technology, many
people no longer will have to go blind.
Because treatment for diabetic retinopathy
works only to maintain vision at its
current level, it is absolutely essential
to have regular check-ups, and then to
have treatment as early as possible by a
laser specialist if problems are found.
Please do not wait until it is too late. |
