Diabetic Retinopathy Causes Blindness: Ophthalmologist

Eminent Ophthalmologist at Isra University Hospital, Prof.

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Dec, 2018 ) :Eminent Ophthalmologist at Isra University Hospital, Prof.

Dr. Nazeer Ahmad Laghari said diabetic retinopathy is the most common form of diabetic eye disease.

Talking to APP here on Wednesday, Prof. Dr.

Nazeer informed that Pakistan is one of the countries having a very high prevalence of diabetes. The country is currently ranked 8th in the prevalence of diabetics and may move up to 4th by the year 2025, added.

He informed that diabetic retinopathy disease is a leading cause of blindness and it is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.

He said that diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

He said that keeping blood glucose levels and blood pressure well controlled helps to lower the risk or slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

He said that the common cause of retinopathy is diabetes; it can sometimes be caused by other diseases such as hypertension.

About the causes of Diabetic blindness, he informed that prolonged high blood glucose levels, , high sugar glucose levels can weaken and damage the small blood vessels within the retina, the part of the eye that sends messages about what we see to the brain.

He further said that symptoms may only become noticeable once the disease advances, but the typical symptoms of retinopathy to look out for include sudden changes in vision, Double vision and eye pain.

About the treatment of Diabetic blindness he said that laser surgery is often used in the treatment of diabetic eye diseases, but each stage of diabetic retinopathy may be treated in a different way. Background retinopathy has no treatment but patients will need regular eye examinations, added.

He said that this is usually painless and has no side effects, but can influence night driving and peripheral vision.

He said prompt diagnosis of glaucoma is necessary as treatment of this disease with medicines is very costly and beyond reach of common man.

He urged people after 30 years of age should get their eyes regularly checked.