Diabetes should check your eyes periodically

60-year-old Mr. Nga (HCMC), diabetes for 15 years, his left eye can only see images like a shadow, and his right eye is only 3/10. He did not know that decreased vision was due to diabetes. The eye doctor said that he had advanced severe diabetic retinopathy.

Periodic eye examination helps doctors detect the stages of diabetes on the eye (Photo: professionaleye) Dr. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, ophthalmologist of FV Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that many cases are like Mr. Ivory. They have diabetes for many years but do not have regular eye exams. When discovered, the eye is usually in the stage: asymptomatic advanced prenatal retinopathy of prematurity or the stage of diabetic retinopathy. Without measures to prevent this stage, they will be blinded very soon after. For Mr. Nga, his left eye has no chance of recovery because there are holes in the retina. The doctor can only maintain the right eye vision by laser method.

Diabetes is divided into two groups : one is insulin dependent (the hormone that stimulates cells to absorb glucose in the blood) accounts for 10%, often meeting young people. Patients in this group have symptoms of heavy eating, excessive urination and rapid weight loss. Two is the isuline-independent group, accounting for 90%, which is common in people over 30, obese people. Patients in this group have few symptoms and the disease progresses silently. The exact cause of the disease has not yet been determined, but its economic and economic scattering is like a "tsunami". However, it is noted that there are genetic or family factors for the infected person. Besides, eating inadequate, sedentary lifestyle, obesity . are also factors that cause disease.

In addition to the complications of nerve damage, heart and kidney disease, vascular accident ., diabetes also has a great effect on health but little attention: it is an eye complication . Diabetes involves small blood vessels that are easy to cause damage to the eyes, especially the retina (nerve membrane at the base of the eye) through several stages. Starting from very small lesions such as microvascular aneurysms, haemorrhagic nodules . then to more severe lesions such as causing bleeding in the eyes leading to pulling, retinal detachment, macular lesions and eventually blindness blind. Dr Doric Wong, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, National Eye Center Singapore, said diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in developed countries today.

However, "damage to the eyes if detected at an early stage can be used to prevent the disease from getting worse, maintaining the current visual acuity of the patient. But when the lesion has entered the advanced stage, the treatment will be ineffective and the disease will continue to evolve without preventing it, " Hanh advised.

Besides diabetes, hypertension is also a huge threat to people's health. In addition to being the leading cause of disability, death for older people, high blood pressure can also cause damage on small blood vessels in the retina and cause complications for the eyes similar to those of the retina. signs due to diabetes. Early lesions can also be effectively treated.

Therefore, routine eye exams are essential for diabetics and high blood pressure , although patients do not see any abnormalities in their eyes. Periodic eye examination, in addition to early detection of complications to take measures to maintain timely vision, also helps doctors detect the stage of diabetes in the eyes, monitor the level of hypertension of people disease, thereby getting appropriate treatment and follow-up directions.

My Lan