Diabetes is the most common chronic disease affecting people of all ages these days. Diabetes is the most common cause of blurred vision. It could also initiate cataracts that could start from a very young age also as well as glaucoma is also most common in diabetics. If you are diabetic and start feeling symptoms like blurred vision you must get your eye examination done as soon as possible and should control your blood sugar levels too with proper diabetes treatment that includes medication and lifestyle modification. If you have diabetes you must get your eye examination done at regular intervals and must follow the advice of your eye specialist.

Diabetic eye disease

Diabetic eye disease includes eye problems that usually affect people suffering from diabetes. This could include eye issues like Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Diabetic Retinopathy. Along with uncontrolled diabetes, if you have high blood pressure that is ignored and not treated, high cholesterol levels, and a habit of smoking the risk of developing eye problems increases.

Symptoms of diabetic eye disease

During the initial stages, there are no symptoms. However, if diabetes is not treated well the symptoms developed are as follows –

1. Blurring of vision

2. Double vision, is usually in one eye

3. Unimproved vision with new pair of glasses

4. Poor color vision

5. Loss of vision

6. Light flashes

What is the first warning sign of Diabetic Eye disease?

Blurred vision, usually is the first warning sign in diabetics that should not be ignored. Sometimes it is non serious, but sometimes it could lead to serious complications like blindness.

Diabetes and Eye

Diabetes is one of the leading causes, that could affect the eyes and thus it is important to get an eye examination as soon as any of the above symptoms starts with proper eye examination and proper diabetes treatment.

1. Blurred vision is a major symptom that needs to be taken seriously. The short-term blurring of vision could have many other reasons too other than diabetes but if it is due to uncontrolled diabetes, stabilizing the sugar levels could improve the symptom.

2. Very low blood sugar levels also cause short-term blurred vision.

3. When diabetes is uncontrolled for the long term, the small blood vessels are damaged and thus damaging the retina. This could lead to blurring of vision.

Other Eye problems caused by Diabetes

1. Cataract –  Any person with or without diabetes could develop cataracts but people with diabetes have a higher tendency of developing cataracts. When the eye lens gets cloudy and you are not able to focus on fine details along with blurred vision you should contact your eye specialist.

2. Glaucoma – The damage to the blood vessels and nerves of the eye caused due to the build-up of pressure in the eye ultimately leading to fluid accumulation and improper drainage of fluid could cause blurred or double vision, pain in eyes, watery eyes, or halos around lights. It should be diagnosed and treated on time as the progression could cause vision loss.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy – Long-term uncontrolled diabetes, damage small blood vessels in the retina thus causing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy if not treated on time could cause vision loss.

When is the eye examination required?

Annual eye examination in diabetics is really helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of eye problems. But it is important to consult your eye specialist if you feel symptoms like blurred vision, flashes of light, or double vision in one eye.

Your doctor would carry your dilated eye examination, wherein with the eye drops they would dilate the pupil and do the full and detailed eye examination which also includes checking the pressure in both the eyes and checking the vision of both the eyes.

Diabetics – Eye Exam Guidelines

Type 1 –  Within 5 years of diagnosis, a yearly examination should be done.

Type 2 – As soon as the diagnosis is done, the yearly examination should be started

Pregnancy – Pregnant women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, should carry out eye examination before planning for pregnancy or in the first 3 months.

Treatment for eyes

The treatment depends on the type of eye disease you are diagnosed with.

1. Eye injection with medication – To prevent the abnormal growth of blood vessels anti-VEGF medication is injected into the eye. It has medicine like Bevacizumab , Ranibizumab . The eyes are numb to prevent pain and the medicine is injected with a very fine needle into the eye. This treatment prevents fluid leakage and also improves eye vision.

2. Cataract surgery – Surgery is indicated in patients who have developed a cataract. The cataract is removed by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens thus improving vision.

3. Laser treatment – To prevent the progression of eye disease, and vision loss laser surgeries are recommended. However, the eye injections (anti-VEGF) treatment approach is better to bring back vision loss. Laser treatment could be done for Glaucoma.

Diabetes treatment

1. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, the chances of development of eye problems increase. It is important to get a regular eye examination done and to maintain a check on blood sugar levels.

2. Control your blood sugar levels by maintaining a healthy weight, taking your medications on time, refraining from smoking, and maintaining good cholesterol levels with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

3. Regular screening is important for eyes as well as for diabetes to prevent further complications.

Dr Jyotsana Anand Suri
Certified medical content writer
Email: jyotsana789@gmail.com

The post Diabetic eye disease – How it affects your eye vision? appeared first on Health Vision.

Bangalore, June 27, 2022: Cataract is the leading cause of vision loss in the country; however, it is treatable with a simple procedure with over 98% success rate. According to the research done by the National Eye Institute, it has been found that 9 out of 10 people who undergo cataract surgery get clear vision. Cataract also most commonly affects people in the age group of 40 and above. On the occasion of Cataract Awareness Month, Pristyn Care has launched “The Great Indian Cataract Survey Report” which aims to create awareness and promote holistic eye-care. The survey was conducted with over 1000+ respondents across metros as well as the data analyzed by the Pristyn Care Data Lab on cataract surgeries performed till now.

According to the survey, more than 50% of Indians are delaying cataract surgeries. Most common misconceptions include losing eyesight, painful procedures, or a long recovery period when it comes to cataract surgery. Among the top criteria for undergoing cataract surgery, 52% of Indians choose specialized, highly experienced surgeons, 41% opt for advanced technology, and 26% make the decision based on the location of the surgery, i.e. Eye hospital and clinic. Affordability and cost of the surgery ranks last at 24%. On the survey findings, Dr. Kripa Pulasaria, Ophthalmologist said, “While there can be multiple reasons for cataract delay, we at Pristyn Care believe that it is important to address patient concerns and spend time with them one-on-one. Patients who understand the treatment and benefits of advanced technology are generally not anxious while undergoing the surgery. Fears of pain, surgical complications, or losing eye-sight can be mitigated with appropriate preoperative education.”

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According to Pristyn Care’s Data Lab which also studied 1 lakh+ cataract patient queries and 7000+ cataract surgeries done by the company, 59% of cataract surgeries are in the age group of 56 and above. Analysis of data further indicates growing cataract cases in the younger population, a condition widely believed to impact the elderly. The risk factors may be prolonged exposure to UV rays, early onset of diabetes, smoking, alcohol, and environmental factors like food adulteration and pollution.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Garima Sawhney, co-founder at Pristyn Care, said, “Cataract is the major cause of reversible blindness and visual impairment in the country. According to Pristyn Care’s Cataract survey report, we have observed that lack of access to information, treatment and accessibility are the main reasons for delay among Indians. Cataract surgeries are the most common and frequently performed as compared to other elective procedures. We are committed to introducing advanced treatments for better and quick recovery. We also spoke to the patients who have undergone cataract surgeries and 83% agreed that their pre-surgery inhibitions were unfounded. In fact, 97% of patients would also recommend cataract surgeries to others.”

Pristyn Care is one of the largest cataract surgery providers in the country. It surveyed 7 metros including NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. The company is also offering free eye check-ups and free consultations in its effort to promote eye care.

Also Read: Beat the eye strain with healthy & robust food. 

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The human eye is a delicate organ. Eyes need constant and preventive care for them to operate at optimum levels. However, most people take eye care lightly. This should especially not be the case for the elderly. With the pandemic there have been scores of patients who prevented regular eye check-ups and delayed treatment for existing diseases which has resulted in a loss of eye health for them. Below are some eye diseases and their preventive care to follow for a healthy and happy pair of eyes especially during the pandemic times.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma can cause total blindness for the patient if not treated on time. A regular check-up is very essential for its prevention. The blindness resulting from glaucoma is irreversible. A key to curing Glaucoma is its early diagnosis and timely treatments. Tests like Applanation, Gonioscopy, Visual fields test, Retina and Optic disc checkup and Glaucoma OCT should be completed intermittently to contact the degree of disease advancement.

If you fit any category below you should get yourself checked for Glaucoma

1. People above 40 years
2. Family history of glaucoma
3. History of Myopia or people experiencing frequent change of glass power
4. History of steroid use over a long time either locally to the eye or systemically
5. History of seeing Haloes
6. Any history of injury or operation to the eyes
7. Systemic problems like diabetes, hypertension or thyroid problems
8. Any systemic or local cancer detected

Diabetic eye disease

The leading lifestyle disease of diabetes is another major cause of eye issues especially those related to the Retina. In case of any reported damage caused by diabetes tests like dilated fundus examination, retinal OCT, FFA and blood sugar status are required. Again, timely treatment is a must to avoid loss of vision.

If you are an existing patient of Diabetes ensure a regular eye check-up for the following categories,

1. History of diabetes for more than 5 years /family history
2. If you are above 40 years of age
3. Children with diabetes
4. History of Hypertension and Diabetes.

Cataract

Cataract progresses quite rapidly in the human eye. Hence, timely detection and cure are a must. Cataract patients have a tendency of developing problems related to lens like LIG (lens induced glaucoma) or Phaco-morphic glaucoma. These cause blindness if timely treatment is not delivered. Hence,  we  advise all patients to continue their timely check-ups and treatment, also surgeries if necessary. Luckily, modern cataract care  surgeries are day procedures for which hospitalization is not required. And with premium IOLs and Laser assisted surgery, the visual recovery is fast. Early cataract surgery is the choice of the day. There is a myth associated with cataract even today that one must wait till the condition is mature to which is not accurate.

Glass power

A possible change in eye power is the most ignored eye issue. This problem pertains to all with an eye number, children and adults and senior citizens. A regular eye checkup to check for a change in the power of glasses should be done 6 months in children to once in a year at the least yearly in adults. If not done occasionally the children may cultivate a lazy eye with recurrent headaches, both in children or adults.

IT Professionals

With modern day working conditions and the constant glare of screen light from laptops and mobile phone it is essential to take eye care more seriously, especially, for IT professionals. They need proper eye care as constant computer use can lead to dry eye, allergies and even headaches depending upon the sensitivity of their eyes. They need to take ophthalmologists advice periodically. Senior citizens are more prone to dry eye problems and need proper care and treatment by an eye specialist faster than young people.

So, is the case with children and college students, These days due to the pandemic most of the schools and colleges are conducting online classes and children are also getting exposed to the computer or mobile screen for a prolonged period leading. At MaxiVision we are seeing an influx of young patients with dry eye problems, irritation, frequent rubbing of eyes leading to infections and in some a condition called Keratoconus which needs early detection. They also need a proper counseling and eye examination by an ophthalmologist.

Systemic problems

Many people are experiencing systemic problems which may affect the eyes also. These systemic issues include thyroid, eye disease, hypertension, systemic use of steroids and chloroquin, congenital problems from birth and cancer. All these complications need periodic eye inspection to thwart blindness.

Doctor Recommendations

Please be aware of all the facts mentioned above and take necessary steps to have an eye examination done on time. Staying positive and healthy, taking care of your eyes and your family and to live a quality life is essential for the human race.

Dr. K. Ratan Kumar, MS (Ophthalmology)
Senior Cataract, Refractive & ICL surgeon
MaxiVision super specialty eye hospital
Madinaguda /Chandanagar, Hyderabad.
ratankuchimanchi@yahoo.in
Mobile: +91 94401 57392.

The post Eye problems are on the rise with no regular checkups in COVID19 pandemic? appeared first on Health Vision.

A cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eye that prevents clear, sharp vision. It may cause loss of vision if not cured on time. To restore a clear vision, a surgeon performs the cataract surgery where he makes a small 2 mm cut on the cornea to enter into the eye and remove the clouded lens by opening the bag in which it lies. He then replaces it with a permanent artificial lens inside the eye.

Common Symptoms of Cataract

It all starts with the development of cloudy vision. You will start to have blurred vision. Also, some of the other common symptoms include: Developing halos around lights, double vision, sensitivity to light and glare, difficulty in seeing at night, fading or yellowing of colours and frequent changes in prescription glasses.

Traditional Cataract Surgery

Also known as phacoemulsification. In this kind of surgery, the surgeon creates a small incision in the cornea. After creating a small opening in the eye capsule, the surgeon inserts a pen-shaped probe into the eye-opening. The probe gives out sound waves that break up the lens. The broken pieces are then suctioned out. The lens is then replaced with an artificial IOL lens.

About Robotic Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgeries will become faster and hassle-free with the new technology that uses laser systems to operate on cataract patients. Also known as the robotic cataract surgery, this technology uses a femtosecond laser machine which is docked on to the eye. Images of the eye are then captured by an imaging system attached to the computer.

The incision of the cornea, the opening of the lens capsule and fragmentation of the lens is done robotically. The robotic step of the cataract surgery is performed in less than 30 seconds. Here is a medical guide that explains the benefits associated with the robotic cataract surgery:

1. High Precision : Sharp precision is not possible in all cases while removing cataracts manually. With the introduction of robotic cataract surgery and computerized laser systems, surgical risks like poor quality incisions and a capsular tear running out of control are reduced to a significant extent. It guarantees a considerable degree of accuracy, and it is beyond what a human hand can do.

2. Perfect Lens Placement & Alignment: The robotic laser makes a precise central opening on the lens bag, ensuring a stable bag and well centered artificial lens at the end of the procedure.

3. Laser-Assisted Correction: Laser-assisted Vision correction –Robotic laser can correct cylindrical number to some extent with Laser incisions, a process not possible with manual surgery.

4. Better Visual Outcome: The robotic cataract surgery offers the restoration of clear and sharp vision and guarantees the removal of cataract and cloudiness. As opposed to manual cataract surgery by a surgeon, robotic surgery guarantees more effectiveness and sharpness as it reduces human intervention and works on calculated incisions.

5. Faster Recovery: There’s quicker recovery with robotic cataract surgery, and it is an excellent option to consider for patients seeking comfortable recovery and faster recovery.

Tips to minimize recovery time and complications:

1. Don’t drive on the day of the surgery or refrain from driving for a few days.

2. Avoid swimming, getting into hot water tubs to minimize the risk of infection.

3. It is recommended to avoid activities like lifting heavy objects and bending for a few weeks.

4. Don’t do things that will create unnecessary pressure in the eye.

5. Don’t rub your eyes immediately after the surgery. You might feel itchy eyes for some time but it is normal.

6. Don’t expose your eyes to dust, water, and dirt as these are irritants and might increase the risk of developing complications.

7. Do take your doctor’s prescribed medications and eye drops.

8. Wear black-framed glasses for some time to protect your eyes from direct light.

Are you eligible for robotic cataract surgery?

You are mostly suitable for robotic cataract surgery unless your case is complicated or under few instances of a non- dilating pupil, you are not eligible for a laser cataract surgery. Else, if you have a hard, matured or subluxated cataract laser cataract seems to be the best alternative and provides sharp vision. Also, if you have a cataract in both the eyes, it is advisable to operate the one first that is in worse condition. Though it is possible to operate both cataracts in one go, your eye surgeon will recommend you after weighing the pros and cons.

How to prevent cataract?

Though cataract is a universal phenomenon and age-related change in most situations, maintaining healthy habits may help in delaying visually significant one. Some of these are:

1.Maintain a nutrient-rich diet: It is very important to incorporate foods that are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E enriched foods. Fruits like orange, lime and kiwi are a source of vitamin C. For vitamin E, use vegetable oils like sunflower, safflower, or wheat germ. Eating nuts, especially almonds provide a good source of vitamin E. So do peanuts. Also, green veggies like spinach and broccoli and cereal contain extra vitamin E.

2. Avoid smoking: Smoking produces free radicals that can harm your eyes. Radicals are chemicals that harm the cells in the eyes and destroy the good chemicals in your body. To prevent cataract it is best to quit smoking.

3. Control Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to develop a cataract. Therefore it is important you keep it under control.

If at any point you experience symptoms like cloudy vision, do schedule an eye examination. Delaying treatment can increase your chances of getting a complicated surgery.

Dr Mahipal Singh Sachdev-Chairman

Centre For Sight

https://www.centreforsight.net/

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