Even if you have no complaints, you can visit an ophthalmologist once a year to have your eyes checked. However, this situation should be taken more seriously in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Retinal disorders related to diabetes cause damage to the retina layer, which detects light at the back of the eye, and can even lead to blindness.
The most common retinal diseases include diabetic retinal disorders, retinal tears, retinal detachment, macular degeneration, retinal vascular occlusions, epiretinal membrane formation, macular hole, hereditary retinal diseases, retinal problems due to eye injuries, and retinal tumors. Sudden or gradual vision loss, decreased vision, seeing wavy and distorted lines, light flashes, floaters, and seeing dark shadows in the field of vision are among the symptoms of retinal diseases.
Methods Patients Can Use for Self-Monitoring at Home:
The simplest method of control can be to cover one eye at a time and look at an object from a certain distance to assess the clarity of each eye separately. Patients can perform the Amsler Grid test by covering one eye and focusing on a central point with the open eye to evaluate whether the lines in the test are straight or if any area appears distorted, blurry, or dark. This test is especially recommended weekly for those monitoring diseases affecting the macula, the 4-5 mm area responsible for color and acute vision at the back wall of the retina.
Retinal diseases often have many environmental, systemic, and hereditary causes. Retinal diseases can develop due to various systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, and bleeding coagulation disorders, as well as due to premature birth, smoking, advanced age, trauma, stress, and various infectious diseases.
Using Tissue-Sparing Laser Applications
Treatment of retinal diseases involves medical treatment (drop and drug therapy), injecting various medications into the eye, using argon laser to create small burns in the abnormal blood vessel areas of the retina to eliminate leakages, and creating micro burns in the weak, torn, and atrophic areas of the retina to protect them. Micropulse laser applications are known as tissue-sparing laser treatments. The retina layer, composed of millions of nerve cells that allow us to see and detect incoming light, can suffer permanent vision loss if retinal diseases are not treated timely and correctly, as the nerve cells become completely damaged and lose the ability to detect light.
Attention Over 50
Patients with diabetes and hypertension are advised to have their eyes and fundus examined at least once a year by a specialized physician. Patients over 50 with a family history are recommended to undergo an examination for macular degeneration by an eye specialist once a year.
Patients with high myopia (-6 diopters and above) are advised to have a fundus examination once a year, even if they have no complaints, due to their increased risk for retinal tears, detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does diabetes affect eye health?
Diabetes can impair the vascular structure behind the eye, leading to leakage and bleeding in the retina layer. Over time, the damage to the blood vessel can progress to vision loss or blindness. Regular eye examinations are crucial for early detection of this damage.
Can high blood pressure cause permanent damage to the eye?
Yes, uncontrolled hypertension over a long period can cause permanent damage to the blood vessels in the eye and vision loss. Therefore, individuals with high blood pressure should not neglect regular eye check-ups.
How can retinal diseases be noticed at home?
Simple tests like the Amsler Grid can be used at home to detect distortions, blurriness, or darkness in the visual field. For a definitive diagnosis, you should consult an eye doctor.
Is laser treatment safe for retinal diseases?
Yes, methods like micropulse laser provide effective treatment while preserving retinal tissue. The recovery process is quick, helping to maintain patients' vision quality.