Diabetic Retinopathy

  Recently, many people with normal vision but with extensive hemorrhage in the retina were found during the fundus photography screening activities for the promotion of diabetes in our hospital. Unlike cataracts, glycoretinopathy is often asymptomatic in the early stages and can easily be overlooked. Once symptoms are present, the condition is already serious, and the best time for treatment is missed and poorly treated.  Diabetes causes retinal vascular proliferation, and the lesions can be visualized with fundoscopy. Epidemiological surveys show that about 75% of diabetic patients who do not pay attention to blood sugar control develop glucose retinopathy within 15 years of onset; more than half of diabetic patients have complications with glucose retinopathy, and their quality of life is seriously affected. The blindness rate of patients with glucose reticulopathy is 25 times higher than that of the general population, and it is the main blindness-causing eye disease worldwide, with 1/4 of blind people worldwide going blind due to this disease.  Most diabetic fundus lesions have a course, but the rate of progression may vary from person to person. As the duration of diabetes increases, the effects on the eye become more pronounced. Therefore, to detect glucose retinopathy early, diabetic patients should have regular eye examinations as early as possible, regardless of whether they have vision changes. In general, vision and fundus should be checked once or twice a year. type 1 diabetic patients should have their fundus checked once a year after puberty; those who have had type 2 diabetes for more than 5 years should preferably have their eyes checked once every six months. In addition, blood sugar should be strictly controlled, and blood pressure and lipids should be controlled within the normal range. Because retinopathy and blood sugar control is extremely close, when blood sugar control is poor, retinopathy occurs early, the incidence is high, and the degree of lesions is heavy.  It is understood that in real life, most people still lack the necessary understanding and awareness of diabetes and its eye complications, and many diabetic patients do not go to the ophthalmology clinic until their vision is severely reduced or even blind, which delays valuable treatment time. However, with early screening and early detection, nearly 90% of diabetes-related vision loss and blindness can be avoided with current medical and eye care technology.  Fundus laser: an effective means of treating glucose retinal blindness For non-value-added glucose retinal disease, laser treatment is an important means to close the ischemic and hypoxic tissues of the fundus without incision or damage to the eye, increase the oxygen supply to the inner retina, stop the generation of abnormal neovascularization, and degenerate the generated neovascularization, thus ensuring the normal work of the visually sensitive part – the macula. -The macular area works normally. Most patients have their disease effectively controlled after laser treatment. We ophthalmologists feel sorry from the bottom of our hearts that many patients with glycogenic retina end up blind because they are not detected and treated early. In fact, glycogen reticulum can be prevented. Firstly, insist on controlling blood sugar. Secondly, insist on regular outpatient fundus examination and fundus photography and FFA (retinal angiography) once every 6 months, which is very important for timely detection of neovascularization. Thirdly, if you find any problems with the fundus, you should actively cooperate with your doctor and undergo retinal laser treatment.  The purpose of laser treatment is not primarily to improve vision, but to control the condition and stop the vision from continuing to be impaired. If you miss laser treatment, depending on the condition, some patients can still improve some of their vision after vitrectomy.  In conclusion, prevention is better than cure. Regular eye examinations, strict blood sugar control, and timely laser treatment can save most diabetic patients from losing their eyesight.