Diabetes can seriously affect your vision. Learn about diabetic retinopathy, its stages, and how the vitreo-retina specialists at Chevron Eye Hospital in Chattogram can help manage this condition.
For the millions living with diabetes in Bangladesh, managing blood sugar is a daily reality. But did you know that diabetes can also have a profound impact on your eyes? One of the most common and serious complications is Diabetic Retinopathy, a condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated.
At Chevron Eye Hospital, our Vitreo-Retina specialists, including Dr M Delwar Hossain and Dr. Wahid Alam, are dedicated to providing advanced treatments to protect and restore your vision.
What happens in diabetic retinopathy?
Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels at the back of your eye (the retina). These vessels may leak fluid and blood, or abnormal new vessels may grow on the retina. This can cause vision to become blurry, spotty, or distorted.
The condition often progresses through stages:
- Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): The early stage. Blood vessels weaken and leak, causing the retina to swell. The macula (for sharp central vision) can also swell, a condition called macular edema.
- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): The advanced stage. The retina starts growing new, abnormal blood vessels. These are fragile and can leak blood into the clear vitreous gel of the eye, causing dark floaters or sudden vision loss.
What symptoms should you watch for?
In its early stages, you might have no symptoms at all. As it progresses, you may notice:
- Floating spots or dark strings in your vision.
- Blurred or fluctuating vision.
- Dark or empty areas in your vision.
- Difficulty seeing at night.
- Vision loss.
How we can help at Chevron Eye Hospital
Early detection is critical. All people with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year. If diabetic retinopathy is detected, our specialists can offer treatments to slow or stop its progression:
- Intravitreal Injections: Medications injected into the eye to stop leakage and abnormal blood vessel growth.
- Laser Treatment (Photocoagulation): To seal leaking blood vessels and shrink abnormal ones.
- Vitrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove blood and scar tissue from the eye, performed in our advanced operating theaters.
Living with diabetes means being vigilant about your overall health, including your eyes. The expert team at Chevron Eye Hospital, located in Panchlaish, Chattogram, is here to support you. With our advanced Vitreo Retina services, we can help you manage your eye health and preserve your vision for years to come. Don’t wait for vision changes—if you have diabetes, make eye exams a regular part of your health routine.
