The World Health Organization has dedicated this year’s World Health Day, which is traditionally celebrated on April 7, to one of the most common diseases of modern times – diabetes . The number of people suffering from this disease is constantly increasing, and black statistics predict that by 2030 there will be as many as 366 million people suffering from it.
Diabetes is an insidious and very serious disease that is characterized by mild symptoms, and therefore often a large number of people with diabetes do not even know that they have the disease, since this disease can go unnoticed for years, and it is discovered by chance and unfortunately when complications are already present.
Diabetes gradually leads to damage of all blood vessels in the body, including the blood vessels of the eye fundus. There are practically no diabetics who, after a few years, do not develop changes in the blood vessels of the fundus (they become permeable and leak fluid or blood), which causes the patient to see less and less. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy .
The only adequate and globally recognized method of treating diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation of the fundus . This ten-minute outpatient procedure “seals” bleeding blood vessels, which slows or at best stops further vision loss. In order for this laser treatment to have an effect, it is necessary to carry it out on time.
In some patients with long-term diabetes, the disease progresses to an advanced stage – proliferative diabetic retinopathy , when newly formed blood vessels appear in the eye, which are very dangerous because they have a thin wall that is permeable to liquid, which often leads to blood spilling into the eye. Patients notice a sudden decrease in vision, which they explain as a moving curtain or a spot that swims in the eye. The appearance of such symptoms requires an immediate visit to an eye doctor. Depending on how thick the bleeding is, the disease is treated with laser photocoagulation, injections into the eye (anti-VEGF therapy) or complicated surgery – vitrectomy.
Important advice from ophthalmologists:
Even if you do not have specific vision problems, and you are over 40 years old, you should go for a complete ophthalmological examination once a year.
Regular ophthalmological controls are necessary for all diabetics, in order to detect the disease in time and start therapy in a timely manner.
Pregnant women are advised to have an eye examination in each trimester of pregnancy.
80% of people who have long-standing diabetes also suffer from diabetic retinopathy.
Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy must go for check-ups every 3-6 months.
It is necessary to carry out regular controls of blood sugar, HbA1C blood lipids (fat) and blood pressure.
Find answers to the most common questions about laser vision correction, cataracts and lens implantation. Everything you need to know before deciding on a procedure.
No, the procedure is completely painless. It takes only a few minutes, and as early as the next day you can function normally without glasses or lenses.
If you notice that your vision is blurry, colors are fading and you struggle to drive at night, these are clear warning signs. Surgery restores clear vision and once cataracts are diagnosed, it should not be postponed.
The biggest advantage is that you forget about glasses – both for near and far. This means you can read a book, use your phone and drive without additional visual aids.
You absolutely do! Toric lenses are specifically designed to correct astigmatism and provide clear vision.
These are artificial lenses that are placed inside the eye, while your natural lens remains untouched. They are an excellent option for younger people with high diopters who are not candidates for laser vision correction.
