Diabetes, a condition affecting over 10% of adults globally, often leads to a vision-threatening condition known as Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD). Alarmingly, DRD is the primary cause of avoidable blindness in individuals between the ages of 20 and 74. The challenge with DRD detection arises from the lack of symptoms during the initial stages, leading to a lack of understanding about the necessity of regular eye screenings.
Prof. Thomas Gardner, an esteemed faculty at the Caswell Diabetes Institute and a respected authority in ophthalmology and visual sciences, recently offered insights into the current screening recommendations and available treatment options for DRD. He elaborates on how diabetes can potentially damage various body parts, including the kidneys, nerves, and eyes. DRD specifically affects the blood vessels and nerve cells in the retina, causing hemorrhages, unusual blood vessel growth, and loss of vital nerve cells.
According to Gardner, individuals often delay taking preventative measures until their vision is at risk, resulting in late-stage DRD. Hence, the American Diabetes Association advises adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to undergo an eye examination immediately, while those with type 1 diabetes should get their first eye examination within five years of diagnosis.
This discrepancy in guidelines for type 1 and type 2 diabetes is due to the fact that adults with type 2 diabetes can experience vision complications before they even become aware of their condition. Young adults and adolescents are especially susceptible due to their struggle to manage their diabetes effectively.
Managing diabetes involves consistent monitoring of blood sugar levels and diet. It’s a complex condition where blood sugar levels can vary despite maintaining the same diet, exercise, and medication. The major challenge for patients is to reduce their blood sugar levels without experiencing hypoglycemia, which can cause shakiness, irregular heartbeat, sweating, and dizziness.
Gardner highlights the importance of comprehensive diabetes care, which includes regular health check-ups to monitor blood pressure and organ function. While the impact of diabetes on the retina is not entirely clear, some drugs such as SGLT inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor activators, and fenofibrate show promise in slowing the progression of DRD.
Gardner and his colleagues at the Caswell Diabetes Institute’s Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative are striving to develop early screening techniques and therapies for DRD. Their aim is to restore and preserve vision in people with diabetes. Gardner remains optimistic about the prognosis for vision in people with diabetes, asserting that vision loss can be prevented with regular screenings and treatment.
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