Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that reduces a person’s immunity. It can lead to heart disease, and it may also affect some organs of the body, such as the eyes. Diabetes is, in fact, the cause of the most common form of blindness, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

Almost all patients with Type 1 diabetes and 60 percent of patients with Type 2 diabetes who have had the disease for 15 years or longer, suffer from some degree of diabetic retinopathy.

Besides getting the risk of going blind, diabetics also have greater chances of getting cataracts at an earlier age, and glaucoma, a condition where a build-up of high pressure in the eyes causes the optic nerves to become damaged.

Diabetes damages the blood vessels in the body causing various eye problems. Normally, our retinal vessels do not leak. But uncontrolled condition of diabetes might cause a leakage of the blood vessels and also a swelling of the retina. Blockage of the vessels might also occur, resulting in a shortage of oxygen to the eyes and the growth of new, abnormal vessels, which may cause bleeding, scarring, and even retinal detachment.

One of the common treatments for diabetic retinopathy is laser photocoagulation that uses light to burn the retina. This helps reduce the swelling and leakage and improves vision. In cases where the blood vessels in the eyes shut down, doctors will use laser surgery on larger areas of the eyes to reduce the lack of oxygen within the retinal tissues. This also cuts off the stimulus for the development of new, abnormal vessels. But in the more advanced stages of the condition, surgery might be required to remove the blood and scar tissues.

Laser and surgical treatments serve to stabilize a patient’s condition but do not cure it totally. Patients typically regain about 50 percent of their sight; hence it is important that regular and annual eye screenings are necessary for early detection.

Diabetes can be asymptomatic, which means that some people can go for years without realizing that they have the disease if symptoms (excessive thirst, frequent trips to the toilet, skin or urine infections) do not surface.

They tend to discover their condition only after their vision has become blurred and diabetic retinopathy has already set in. About 21 percent of patients are found to have retinopathy at the point of their diabetes diagnosis. Those with a family history of the condition are urged to go for regular health checks as they are at a higher risk of getting the disease.

The key in preventing the onset of diabetes-related eye problems is to maintain healthy blood glucose levels with regular medication and a strict diet. Diabetics should try utmost to cut sugar from their diet. Limit fruit to one portion per meal and avoid white flavor and carbohydrates like white rice and bread, and opt for unpolished rice and multi-grain bread instead.