Diabetes, which is the leading cause of death today. Many people over the age of 50 are at high risk for diabetes. Diabetes can lead to many other life-threatening illnesses. Blindness is also one of the common causes of diabetes. Unexpected loss of vision is more common than you might think. Blindness often occurs without warning signs and in people who are unaware that they are at risk.
Two of the most common causes of unexpected vision loss are diabetes and glaucoma. These infections are known as “secret detectives” because the symptoms may not be immediately apparent. When a person realizes that something is wrong, he often loses sight of irreversible loss.
In fact, diabetes is a leading cause of blindness in adults. An average of 55 Americans go blind from the disease each day. Statistics threaten to increase dramatically as diabetes becomes more prevalent due to poor eating habits, lack of regular exercise, and aging. One in three children born in the United States five years ago is expected to have diabetes throughout their life.
Diabetes causes severe or complete loss of vision in 70 percent of sufferers. However, 30 percent of all people with diabetes do not even know they have it. Even people who know they have diabetes reduce their risk.
According to a study of diabetic patients sponsored by Lions Clubs International, 60 percent did not worry about blindness or disability. In fact, 74 percent of people with diabetes will have serious problems that can lead to vision loss or kidney failure.
Glaucoma, on the other hand, is a group of eye diseases that gradually damage the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain. For many people, this damage occurs when the pressure in the eye is too high. When these emotions are hurt, they can cause loss of vision.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. But like diabetes, most people do not know about it: An estimated 4.2 million Americans have glaucoma but half of them do not.
Early retinopathy
The first stages of retinal injury are called non-proliferative retinopathy. First, the capillaries in the retina have weak areas in their walls called microaneurysms. When red blood cells emerge from these weak walls, minor bleeding (bleeding) is seen when the retina is examined with a tool called an ophthalmoscope. To better visualize your retina, an eye doctor will enlarge (extend) your pupils (which act as a window behind your eye) and may use special dyes to help you detect potential blood vessels.
Fluid from the blood is also lost, leading to yellow “hard exudates”. This type of damage does not cause problems with vision unless the leaky liquid is close to the macula. (Macula is the area of the retina responsible for visual acuity.) An optician who specializes in treating retina problems will try to stop the bleeding with a laser procedure called photocoagulation. By means of a well-chosen laser, your eye specialist may close small blood vessels that can leak when a person has a chronic and prolonged retinopathy. Recently, ophthalmologists have been using injectable drugs to treat retinal leakage.
If fluid leaks near the macula, it can interfere with vision. This is called macular edema. As retinopathy becomes more severe, parts of the abnormal capillaries may close. This kills parts of the retina capillaries that had previously donated blood. These small damaged parts of the retina are called "cotton wool" spots and can be detected using an ophthalmoscope.
Recent retinopathy
The latest stages of retinal injury are called proliferative retinopathy, because the delicate new blood vessels grow to supply damaged areas of the retina. These new blood vessels can result in the vitreous gel, the gel-filled area in front of the retina. Over time, the red tissue that makes up the hemorrhage can cause the retina to detach from the retinal detachment and cause vision loss.
Severe retinopathy can be treated with laser surgery to save vision. Your eye doctor may use a powerful laser treatment, called scatter (pan-retinal) photocoagulation. This process is much more accurate than that used in local photocoagulation. And it may require more individual treatment. But it does allow your doctor to slow down the growth of new blood vessels behind your retina. Severe retinopathy can be treated with drugs that slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. The growth of these vessels is due to a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF antibodies, such as aflibercept or ranibizumab, block the effects of VEGF.
Laser treatment may not always be effective in treating proliferative retinopathy. If you have retinal detachment or irreversible bleeding, your retina specialist will need to use a surgical procedure to try to restore your vision. This surgical procedure, called pars plana vitrectomy, attempts to repair the retina and reduce bleeding. Like most surgical techniques, it has fewer risks and is more likely to damage your eye than laser surgery.
Diabetes and glaucoma are more prevalent among blacks and Hispanics. These groups are believed to be genetic and more vulnerable than Caucasians. Some especially at risk for glaucoma are people over the age of 60, who have a family history of glaucoma, those who have diabetes and those who see it very closely.
The good news for those at risk is that an extended eye examination can detect two diseases and early treatment can prevent vision loss. Psychiatrists urge vulnerable people to have regular eye examinations.
Awareness of diabetic eye disease and glaucoma is key to preventing unnecessary blindness. Lions Clubs International is working with Lions groups, community groups and individuals to announce the need for early detection and treatment of these two diseases at a time. The Lion's Eye Health Program provides a wide range of health exhibition materials, adult services and similar circles. It also provides eye disease awareness strategies.
You must be logged in to post a comment.