Diabetic Eye Disease

How can diabetes affect the eye? 

Diabetes mellitus, characterised by raised blood sugar levels can cause a myriad of eye diseases, ranging from simple refractive errors to inflammation of the ocular surface (blepharoconjunctivitis) to potentially vision threatening diabetic retinopathy and optic neuropathy. 

How can diabetic eye disease be ascertained? 

The patient and the doctor work together, wherein, the patient has to provide the details of his/ her glycemic profile and hypoglycemic agents, along with any recent blood reports. The doctor ensures a thorough ophthalmic examination, with dilated retinal examination, as a part of the routine visit. Ancillary investigations may then be discussed by your doctor with you, following which appropriate therapy with medications or surgery may be discussed by your doctor with you. 

Recent advances in management of diabetic eye diseases? 

Optical coherence tomography provides a non – invasive micro structural analysis of the retinal damage caused due to diabetic retinopathy. Therapy involves conventional laser photocoagulation, with intravitreal anti VEGF injections for diabetic macular edema.