Diabetic retinopathy: ophthalmologist explains what it is, how to prevent blindness

It is one of the many complications of diabetes. Perhaps, among others, the most underrated: the diabetic retinopathywhich if not addressed and treated in the right way it can even lead to blindness in patients with diabetes. It is a disease that has been “exploding” in various parts of the world in recent years: in this regard, he intervened at Gazette Active the professor Francis Bandellodirector of the Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology Unit of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

What is diabetic retinopathy

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“Diabetic retinopathy is an ocular complication of diabetes, the most important one. We remind you that diabetes is characterized by the accumulation of glucose in the blood, and after so many years in which these quantities are excessive, the glucose accumulates in the circulation and causes damage over time. It is a disease that has been exploding in recent yearsespecially in those areas of the world where there has been a sudden change in diet and lifestyle, made up of fast food, fatter food and more sedentary days. In general, compared to 50 years ago, we move much less: let’s think of the kids, who spend much less time outdoors than before. All this makes kids less accustomed to those physical activities that until a few years ago were practically daily”.

how is diabetic retinopathy treated?

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The complications of diabetes affect various parts of the body, including the kidneys, the heart, the blood vessels and the eye, in particular the retina: “The first risk factor for the onset of diabetic retinopathy is the duration of the diabetes itself . The diagnosis is made with an examination of the fundus of the eye, while in the past it required much more invasive methods. The treatment consists of intravitreal injections of drugswhich allow the evolution of the disease to be halted, obtaining results that were previously unthinkable” explains Bandello.

risk of blindness: how to prevent it?

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When it comes to diabetic retinopathy, the greatest danger – and consequently the greatest fear for the patient – is that of blindness. A risk which, however, can be avoided, as Professor Bandello explains: “First of all, the first prevention is what the diabetic does behaving well and taking care of yourself. The possibility of having complications decreases, and when they appear they do so later and are less serious. Furthermore, you have to see the ophthalmologist when the symptoms are not there yet, it is necessary to arrive at the diagnosis before the retina has already suffered damage. The visual symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are poor and crooked vision, but when they arrive, it means they are already late and that the disease is already there. We need to intervene before there are symptoms. Diabetic retinopathy leads to blindness if the patient and the specialist make mistakes: today it is possible to avoid these serious complications. If the patient is well behaved and maintains a healthy lifestyle, it is not possible for him to go blind” concludes the professor.