Diabetes and Eye

Diabetes may cause cataracts in the eyes, glaucoma, and most importantly of all, reduced vision as a result of diabetic retina disease in patients. The development of loss of sight is 25 times higher than normal in diabetics. It is one of the most common reasons for loss of sight in people aged between 20-65. For diabetics, the probability of developing damage to the eyes is around 20% for those who have suffered from the illness for 10 years, and around 80% for those who have suffered from the illness for 30 years.

Diabetic Retina Disease

This is a defect which impacts on the veins of the layer of nerves within the eye, known as the retina. Blockages and leakages arise in the veins, damaging the feeding and structure of the retinal layer. It is categorised in three principal stages:

1. The early period
2. The proliferation (the formation of new veins) period
3. Advanced Diabetic Eye disease

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The complaints related to diabetic retina disease begin with the macula being affected – that is to say, decreased vision. A fundus angiography is performed in patients for whom diabetic retina disease has been determined, in order to view the damage at the level of the veins on the retina.

Fundus Angiography (FFA)

Eye ground angiography, which is known as fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is an extremely simple examination procedure. The pupils are widened using eye drops. A fluorescent paint material is injected through the veins in the arms, and the circulation of the paint within the eye is observed and photographed. This enables the detection of leakages and bleeding from the veins, areas which are not fed by the veins, new veins, membrane formations and other damage, thus determining the areas which are to be treated. It is recommended that fundus angiography is conducted for control purposes once a year in patients where diabetic retina disease has begun, and once every 6 months in patients where there are symptoms of retina disease.

Laser photocoagulation

Laser treatment will be implements on the retina tissue ıf the macula period preventing vision has advanced or where leaking veins, unfed areas and new vein formations are present at the proliferation stage.

However, at advanced stages of diabetic eye disease, such as bleeding within the eyes, and shrinkages and defects caused by the fibrotic membranes, a very sensitive inner eye surgery, known as vitrectomy is required.