Diabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar spikes. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among young people in the United States has skyrocketed. Numerous complications of the disease can occur, including diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of adult blindness.
2. What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects the retina, which is the nerve layer at the back of the eye. All living tissues, including the eye, require functioning blood vessels to function, and diabetes damages the eye's blood vessels. A recent study, which was published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, found that the risk of diabetic retinopathy in the United States is much higher than previously thought.
3.About the study
Scientists estimate that approximately 9.6 million Americans, or 26.43 percent of diabetics, will have diabetic retinopathy in 2021. Diabetic retinopathy had vision-threatening forms in approximately 5% of diabetics (1.84 million). The researchers used information from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System.
4. What causes retinopathy in diabetics?
The most common cause of diabetic retinopathy is untreated or poorly controlled diabetes. Another factor is a lack of screening and regular eye exams. Diabetic retinopathy can result in minimal damage or even complete blindness, necessitating the removal of an uncomfortable eye.
5. Symptoms
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, many people do not experience any symptoms at all. At first, one might only have minor vision issues. However, it may result in blindness if left untreated. The Mayo Clinic says that as the condition gets worse, you might get:
Spots or dark strings that are floating in your vision (floaters) Blurred vision, jittery vision, dark or empty areas in your vision, and vision loss.
6. An annual eye
Exam is necessary to prevent vision damage caused by diabetes. Even if your vision appears to be in good condition, it is essential to visit your eye doctor for an annual examination with dilation if you have diabetes. Because it enables the disease to be discovered at a stage when treatment will be most effective, this examination is crucial.