Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy and Risk Factors

November is World Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Find out how people with diabetes can protect their vision and prevent blindness.   The theme for 2021-2023 has been on Access to Diabetes with the subtheme this year being Education to protect tomorrow. PatientsEngage and IHOPE came together at how people with diabetes can protect their vision and prevent blindness. It is not common knowledge that people…

Diabetic Macular Edema is a complication of diabetes and can impact vision if left undiagnosed and untreated. It affects persons with both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Padmaja Kumari Rani, Network Head, Tele-Ophthalmology and Vitreoretinal surgeon,  Consultant Ophthalmologist, L V Prasad Eye Institute answers questions on the risk factors, treatment and prevention of Diabetic Macular Edema The video below covers the following topics:  What is Diabetic Macular Edema? What…

Vision Rehabilitation is recommended for people with no vision or low vision, both children and adults, to enable them to live as independently as possible. Ms. Beula Christy, PhD, Head, Institute for Vision Rehabilitation L V Prasad Eye Institute explains how vision rehabilitation can be customised to suit the specific needs of the people concerned. What is Vision Rehabilitation?  Rehabilitation is an essential health service that focuses on the functioning of an individual to live as…

Rekha Khanduri, 73 from Mumbai has diabetes for a while and lost her eyesight due to diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes related complication. She talks about how she has since learnt to live with such an irreparable loss. Please tell us a bit about your condition : I have Blood Pressure as well as diabetes. In fact, I lost my left eye due to diabetes. When were you diagnosed with diabetes? About 35 years back. Diabetes runs in the family as both my grandfathers had it. My paternal grandfather had…

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes and can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. It affects persons with any kind of diabetes - Type 1, Type 2 and gestational. Dr. Raja Narayanan, Principal Investigator IHOPE and Consultant Opthalmologist, Vitreo Retinal Diseases answers questions on the risk factors, treatment and prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy. The video below covers the following topics:  - What is Diabetic Retinopathy  - Symptoms of Diabetic…

A recent study in Singapore looked at the risk of falls for people with Diabetic Retinopathy. Given the increased risk, we share a useful video on Diabetic Retinopathy prepared by Public Health Foundation of India  People with Diabetic Retinopathy have an increased likelihood of falls as per a study in Singapore In a post hoc cross-sectional analysis of the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study of 9481 participants from a multiethnic (Malay, Chinese, and Indian individuals)…

What kind of screening tests should I undergo? Here are some guidelines, according to American Diabetic Association Adults and children aged >10 years with Type 1 diabetes should have an initial dilated and comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within 5 years of the onset of diabetes. Patients with Type 2 diabetes should have an initial dilated and comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist shortly after the diagnosis of diabetes.…

Its important to maintain good metabolic control in order to prevent or slow progression of retinopathy.  Good metabolic control is important to manage this early stage. Manage your blood glucose level and your blood pressure. Targets of HbA1c <7%, BP <130/80 mmHg (SMBP <125/75 mmHg) should be achieved to improve vision, prevent or slow progression of retinopathy. Lipid and kidney status should also be controlled. Let your doctor know if you are experiencing diminished vision or…

Treatment depends on the stage of Diabetic retinopathy  Early nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) Let your doctor know if you are experiencing diminished vision or any other eye problems like blurriness.  Retinal imaging (Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, Optical Coherence Tomography) followed by retinal laser treatment is indicated in this stage of retinopathy. Recently, Intravitreal injections (injections in the eye), which maybe Anti VEGF (Avastin, Lucentis) or steroid…

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy are:  Early nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) This is the early stage when the patient is usually asymptomatic or has mild blurring of vision. On examination, the eye care provider may find the following when looking into the patient’s eye with an opthalmoscope: Microaneurysm (small, red dots often in a punctuate pattern) with or without swelling of the retina Dot and sparse blot haemorrhages (red, round or blot-shaped in the inner nuclear layer or…