Protect your eyes from diabetes

Every year on November 14 World Diabetes Day is observed. The current world diabetes day, themed “Eyes on Diabetes” lays its focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of type-2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.

Irrespective of the type, diabetics are at high risk of developing several eye diseases like retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. Hence, it becomes all the more important for diabetics to take special care of their eyes.

The fluctuation in blood sugar levels damages the blood vessels that supply blood to the eyes. The images or the colours seem blurry and it also causes the retina to swell.

The condition can worsen and might even lead to blindness if not taken proper preventive steps. Glaucoma also grows with the age.

Some of the symptoms of diabetic eye diseases are:

• Blurry vision.
• Dark or black spots in the vision.
• Pain in the eyes.
• Difficulty seeing through the corner of the eyes.

It is very necessary to follow strict steps for a diabetic eye patient to protect himself from further damage.

Following are the steps to prevent eye damage from diabetes:

Habits: By adopting eye protection habits like wearing sunglasses when in sun, regularly washing eyes, eating fruits that improve the vision will help to lower the diseases.

Diet: One should start taking nutrition rich diet like leafy greens vegetables and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps in protecting overall eye health.

Keeping sugar in control: By keeping the sugar in control and by improving blood glucose numbers, will help to lower the risk of retinopathy. Also, one should keep the blood pressure in check because high BP can lead to the damage in blood vessels of the retina.

Stop smoking: Smoking affects the tiny blood vessels in the eyes and increases pressure in the eyes that can lead to nerve damage. It also leads to many other risks in the body. Quitting smoking is one of the top priorities to protect eyes.

Eye checkup: One should go for a regular checkup to an ophthalmologist to begin the treatment and for detailed examination. The basis of the test, a doctor will suggest the number of times one should see the doctor for an eye checkup.

Exercising: Regular exercise will help maintain the sugar levels and also helps in maintain the cholesterol in control. Physical activity is also good for vision. It will definitely help in controlling the diabetic eye disease.

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By: Amol Naikawadi
The writer is a preventive health care specialist at Indus Health Plus