Diabetes and eyes:
Diabetes may cause cataracts in the eyes, glaucoma and most importantly of all, reduced vision as a result of diabetic retina disease in patients. The development of loss of sight is 25 times higher then normal in diabetics. It is one of the most common reasons for loss of sight in people aged between 20-65. For diabetics, the probabilitiy of developing damage to the eyes is around 20% for those who have suffered from the illness for 10 years, and around 80% for those who have suffered from the illness for 39 years.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
The complaints related to diabetic retina disease begin with the macula being affected (decreased vision). A fundus angiography is performed in patients for whom diabetic retina disease has been determined, in order to view the damage at the level of the veins on the retina.
Fundus Angiography (FFA):
Eye ground angiography, which is known as fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) is an extremely simple examination procedure. The pupils are widened using eye drops. A fluorescent paint material is injected through the veins in the arms, and the circulation of the paint within the eye is observed and photographed. This enables the detection of leakages and bleeding from the veins, areas which are not fed by the veins, new veins, membrane formations and other damage, thus determining the areas which are to be treated. It is recemmended that fundus angiography is conducted for control purposes once a year in patients where are symptpms of retina disease.
Argon Laser Treatment:
Laser treatment will be implements on the terina tissue if the macula period preventing vision has advanced or where leaking veins, unfed areas and new vein formations are present at the proliferation stage.
However, at advanced stages of diabetic eye disease, such as bleeding within the eyes, and shrinkages and defects caused by the fibrotic membranes, a very sensitive inner eye surgery, know as vitrectomy is required.