When blood sugar levels are out of control, the blood vessels behind the eyes can get damaged. This makes diabetes a risk factor for eye diseases. Properly managing diabetes can reduce the risk of eye conditions in diabetics and help preserve vision for longer.
The articles below discuss various diabetic eye disease along with prevention tips to keep your eyes safe.
Diabetic retinopathy linked to higher depression and anxiety risk in adults with diabetes
Diabetic retinopathy is linked to higher depression and anxiety risk in adults with diabetes. Diabetics are more likely to develop cataracts or glaucoma, and nearly half of them will have some sort of eye or vision problem. A common complication of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of eyesight loss among diabetic patients.
The study included 519 participants who had diabetes for 13 years on average. The patients underwent a comprehensive eye exam and were screened for depression and anxiety.
Eighty individuals tested positive for depressive symptoms and 118 persons tested positive for anxiety. Diabetic retinopathy was found to be an independent risk factor for depression and anxiety. Continue reading…
New guidelines have been laid out to treat diabetic retinal degeneration, along with age-related macular degeneration. The study compared the efficiency of various drugs in treating diabetic macular degeneration. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, director of the University Hospital of Ophthalmology and Optometry at MedUni, Vienna, explained, “The Vienna Reading Center is one of the leading centers in the world for analyzing images of the human retina. Our analyses and studies will also form a basis for the approval of new drugs. Diabetics are particularly reliant on having normal vision, even if it is just to adjust their blood sugar on an everyday basis.”
Macular degeneration is one of the most common eye disorders in the world and symptoms can be age related or caused by diabetes. It can be successfully treated with injections with the vascular (VEGF) inhibitors. Continue reading…
A study has examined diabetic macular edema prevalence risk factors among diabetes patients. Diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetics and the prevalence of the condition appears to be higher in non-Hispanic black patients, compared to white patients. Furthermore, those who have had diabetes for longer are also at a higher risk, alongside patients with higher levels of hemoglobin A1c.
Nearly 347 million people worldwide have diabetes, and although diabetic retinopathy is well known, diabetic macular edema is a condition that is discussed much less.
A study analyzed 1,038 patients over the age of 40 where 55 had diabetic macular edema. Overall prevalence was estimated at 3.8 percent or nearly 746,000 people in the U.S. as of 2010.
The researchers wrote, “Given recent treatment advances in reducing vision loss and preserving vision in DME, it is imperative that all persons with diabetes receive early screening; this recommendation is even more important for those individuals at higher risk for DME.” Continue reading…
A research study published in Optometry and Vision Science suggests that age-related cataracts are associated with type 2 diabetes and statin use. The study was conducted by researchers of University of Waterloo, Canada, led by Carolyn M. Machan, O.D.
As part of the study, the researchers collected data from nearly 6,400 patients of the optometry clinic at the University of Waterloo in 2007-08. Among them, 452 patients had type 2 diabetes, of which 56 percent were taking statins. Among the remaining 9,548 non-diabetic patients, only 16 percent were taking statins.
The researchers noted that there was an increased rate of age-related cataracts in both the diabetic patients and the participants taking statins. Continue reading…
One of the complications associated with diabetes is eye disease. Diabetes can wreak havoc on your vision and eye health, in some cases leading to vision loss. If you have diabetes, it’s important that you keep your condition well managed. If you don’t, you should take the necessary preventative measures to reduce your risk and protect your vision along with overall health.
Regardless of the type, diabetics have a 25 percent higher risk of vision loss, compared to the general population without diabetes. In diabetes, your body cannot store sugar properly. This fluctuation in blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels, especially those that supply blood to your eyes. As a result, diabetes means an increased risk for eye complications, including cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Continue reading…