Diabetes, harmful to the health of vision

More 500 million people in the world suffer from diabetes, A chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not use insulin effectively to control blood sugar or glucose levels. When this overproduction persists for a long time, it can damage blood vessels in various parts of the body, including the eyes. And it will affect vision, up to blindness.

“A person begins to notice that it is difficult for him to engage in activities that he used to do easily, direct objects or squares now you see them distorted. sometimes walk spots or “scotomas” (small or very large dark or black areas),” the doctor explains. Esteban Arellano, surgeon and specialist in ophthalmology.

The consequences of this deterioration include the development of eye diseases associated with diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and macular edema, which are the most common cause of blindness in the working population.

YES CAN BE PREVENTED

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)keeps so close to 90% Vision loss from diabetes can be prevented. Hence the importance of timely consultation with an ophthalmologist, especially if you live with diabetes and even in the absence of symptoms.

It is possible to live with good eyesight even in the golden age, “because the eyes are made to see if we are living 50 or 100 years the detail is to find the fault and fix it in time,” emphasizes Arellano, head of the medical division at Roche, who shares more information on this topic.

MOST COMMON

Diabetes can cause some vision problems. These are the most frequent

1. Diabetic retinopathy. It occurs when the blood vessels in the retina (tissues at the back of the eye) become inflamed, causing fluid or blood to leak or leak. Early symptoms include flies or flies, blurry vision, difficulty seeing colors. It can also cause blindness. Mild cases can be treated by carefully monitoring diabetes. The most neglected cases, with a laser or surgery.
2. Waterfalls. While everyone’s lens tends to cloud over with age, people with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age. This is because high blood sugar can cause deposits to build up on the lens of the eye and cause it to become cloudy. Maintaining good blood sugar control helps prevent permanent lens clouding and lens surgery.
3. Macular edema. It is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetic patients and the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population. This happens when fluid builds up on the retina, causing inflammation and blurred vision. “With the advanced drug faricimab, disease progression is halted and vision loss can even be reversed, in addition to requiring fewer doses,” emphasizes Dr. Arellano, emphasizing that Ecuador is the first country in South America where access to this drug already sold in the private sector.

• Eat a balanced diet

• Practice regular exercise, such as walking for 30 minutes a day.

• If you have a medical condition, take your medications and see your eye doctor once a year, even if you don’t have symptoms.

• Carrot juice? It is rich in vitamins and, like other vegetables, promotes adequate metabolism of the eyes, especially the retina, which captures images.

vices

• avoid smoking, rubbing or rubbing the eyes.

• Do not self-medicate. Do not use drops or eye drops recommended by a relative or neighbor that have not been prescribed by your doctor. There are people who have put ear medicine in their eyes and it has caused perforations in the eyes.

• Makeup. There are only problems if you sleep regularly without removing your makeup, because it accumulates in the eyes or on the surface and can have a toxic, allergic effect. It is important to use products that are organized and you buy them in serious institutions. Beware of those sold on the street or in informal stores. The doctor recommends not sharing cosmetics with family or friends.