Expressing that sudden increases and decreases in blood sugar can cause diabetic retinopathy disease by affecting the vessels in the retina, the nerve layer of the eye that provides vision, Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Op. Dr. Adnan İpçioğlu said, “If diabetes is not controlled, it can cause serious vision loss.”
Stating that the incidence of diabetic retinopathy is increasing especially in people with diabetes for more than 10 years, Medicana Bursa Hospital Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Op. Dr. Adnan İpçioğlu said, “There is a risk of this eye disease for all patients with diabetes. It is beneficial for everyone with diabetes to have a comprehensive eye examination at least once a year. The longer a person has had diabetes, the greater the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy in this person.”
Eye Health and Diseases Specialist Op. Dr. Adnan İpçioğlu warned that the patient should have an eye examination immediately after the diagnosis of diabetes and to continue routine eye examinations as part of diabetes controls at 1-year intervals. Op. Dr. İpçioğlu said, “In particular, fundus examination ensures that changes in the retina are detected at an early stage and provides the patient with the opportunity to be treated successfully. After the diagnosis of diabetes, diabetic patients with diabetes exceeding 5 years at 1-year intervals should have an eye examination every 6 months, and diabetics with detected under-eye problems should have an eye examination every 3 months. The frequency of examination is determined by the ophthalmologist as necessary.”
Stating that the only proven method to treat diabetic retinopathy is 'laser photocoagulation', Op. Dr. Adnan İpçioğlu gave the following information;
“The main purpose of the treatment is to suppress the stimuli originating from the retinal tissue in the periphery that cannot be sufficiently nourished, thus preventing the formation of new bleeding vessels and hemorrhages and maintaining the patient's vision level. This treatment is the only way to prevent serious vision loss due to diabetes if it is applied at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way. Early detection of retinopathy symptoms is the key to treatment success. Blurred vision is a common complaint in the early stages of diabetes. This may not be due to retinopathy, but to high blood glucose levels at the time. It may take a few weeks for the blood glucose level to return to normal, and the blurred vision disappears once control is achieved. During this temporary blurred period, changing glasses is not an appropriate method.”
