All You Need To Know About Diabetic Retinopathy
It is very important to take care of our eyes. This is why we are always advised to wear protective glasses when working with a computer, use sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sun, take supplements to keep our eyes healthy, and so much more. But what if you have high blood sugar and high blood pressure? These health problems can cause diabetic retinopathy.
All About Diabetic Retinopathy
According to statistics, one of three people who have diabetes has a certain degree of diabetic retinopathy. And those who have diabetes have a high risk of developing it. Swisscoat Better Vision have doctors who can help you with diabetic retinopathy hong kong. But before you book an eye examination, let us learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy and what we can do to prevent this from getting worse.
Preparing For Diabetic Retinopathy Appointment
If you have Type 2 Diabetes, it is advisable for you to get your initial eye exam during your diagnosis because you might not know it but you already have diabetes for some time now. If there is no retinopathy in your initial exam but you have diabetes, it is best for you to get your pupils dilated and checked as well as the comprehensive eye exam every two years at least. But if you have retinopathy (any level), you need to undergo eye exams once a year. You can always ask your doctor what is best for you.
Diagnosis For Diabetic Retinopathy
This eye condition that is one of the effects of diabetes is diagnosed by a doctor using a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Eye drops are placed in your eyes to dilate the pupils. This will allow the doctor to have a better view of your eyes. This is when the doctor will look for abnormal blood vessels, any presence of swelling or fatty deposits, new blood vessels growth or scar tissues, bleeding, abnormalities, and so on. You would also need to undergo a vision test, check for cataracts, and also measure your eye pressure for glaucoma.
Treatment For Early Diabetic Retinopathy
For those who have mild or moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, immediate treatment might not be needed. However, your doctor would need to closely monitor the health of your eyes in order for him or her to determine the treatment that you need. You can talk to your doctor whether there are ways for you to improve your condition and how to manage your diabetes. Usually, in these cases, blood sugar control can help slow down the progression.
Treatment For Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
Prompt surgery is needed if a person has proliferative diabetic retinopathy. You have different options depending on the severity of the problem. Here are some of the options that might be advised by your doctor:
- This is a laser treatment or focal laser treatment that can slow down or stop the blood or fluid leakage in your eyes.
- Panretinal Photocoagulation. A laser treatment called scatter laser treatment that can shrink any abnormal blood vessels.
- A procedure that uses tiny incisions to remove blood in the vitreous or your the middle part of your eye and also any scar tissues on your retina.
- Eye Medicine Injection. Also called vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (VEGF) that can stop new blood vessels from growing.
Early diagnosis is the key. This is why it is important that you get your blood sugar and blood pressure levels checked regularly. Never take for granted your doctors’ visits. You might need prescription glasses or contact lenses hong kong for your vision, or you might need something more.