Treating Diabetic Retinopathy
Is diabetic retinopathy reversible? This is a very common question asked by people with diabetes. It is not reversible, but it’s still preventable and can also be treated through certain procedures. The Lasik procedure has been an effective solution for numerous vision ailments. However, since the introduction of this procedure, there has been reluctance in treating diabetic patients.
Fortunately, with the right care, diabetic patients are receiving Lasik treatment for their eye ailments. Diabetic retinopathy treatment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, using Lasik procedure, is also being done provided the patient is efficiently managing their blood sugar, and the condition is not severe.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
This is damage caused by diabetes to the light-sensitive retina, which is situated at the back of your eye. With the progression of diabetes, the chronic levels of high blood sugar lead to various modifications which damage the small blood vessels in your retina, making them bleed or leak fluid. Gradually, this results in vision that can’t be corrected with contact lenses or eyeglasses. The most common risk factors of diabetic retinopathy include increased blood fats, low control over blood glucose, high blood pressure, prolonged diabetes, and the presence of protein in urine.
Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the UAE
There has been an increase in diabetic patients in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which is why efforts are being made for the effective treatment and management of diabetic retinopathy. According to research, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in UAE is 19%, and it mostly affects elderly males. The experts highly recommend that diabetic individuals go for regular screening for early detection and for timely Lasik treatments to prevent the disease from progressing and entering the latter and more severe stage, which can ultimately result in blindness.
Diabetic Retinopathy Causes and Symptoms
People with diabetic retinopathy may not exhibit any symptoms of during the initial stages, but as the disease progresses, the symptoms might include the following: · Vision loss · Empty or dark areas in your vision · Impaired color vision · Fluctuating vision · Blurred vision · Dark strings or floating spots in your vision (floaters) This disease mostly affects both the eyes. High levels of sugar in the blood over time results in the blocking of blood vessels which nourish the retina. This cuts of the blood supply, and consequently, your eye makes attempts at growing new blood vessels. In many cases, these blood vessels aren’t properly developed and start leaking or bleeding. Two kinds of diabetic retinopathy exist:
Early Diabetic Retinopathy
– this is a very common type of this disease and referred to as Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR). In this case, the blood vessels are not growing. It is caused by the weakening of your blood vessels’ walls in the retina.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
– this is the severe type, referred to as proliferative diabetic retinopathy. It is caused by closing off of the damaged vessels, resulting in abnormal blood vessel growth, which may leak a jelly-like, clear substance.
Lasik Procedure for Diabetic Retinopathy in UAE
Diabetic retinopathy traditional treatments include steroid implants, invasive intraocular injections, or laser treatment. The Lasik procedure is a rather effective treatment for diabetic retinopathy, and an increasing number of people in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are opting for Lasik procedures for diabetic retinopathy treatment. Lasik surgery helps in altering your cornea shape to enhance the vision. This surgery can be a bit tricky to perform on diabetic patients since the levels of blood sugar can lead to the fluctuation of your vision prescription. This means that the eye doctor might face difficulties in figuring out the right way of reshaping your cornea. This issue can be drastically reduced if you are vigilant in maintaining a stable blood sugar level for a prolonged time until your surgery is to be performed. When you opt for a Lasik procedure, here are the basic steps you will go through: · Your doctor will take your diabetes history first, how long have you’ve had diabetes, which prescription you take, and the steps you take to manage your sugar levels. · You will also be asked about your lifestyle, your diet, and physical activity. · Moreover, your eye care history will also be taken. · If your blood sugar is controlled, your overall ocular health will be examined. This includes checking your corneal sensation, punctate epitheliopathy, dry eye signs, and more. · Your diabetic retinopathy will also be screened. Once everything is thoroughly examined and analyzed, your doctor will determine whether or not Lasik surgery can be performed on you. Due to potential complications and harm to diabetic patients, there are certain situations in which the surgery will be denied. Severe diabetic retinopathy is a contraindication for Lasik. Moreover, if your hypertension is also not controlled, the Lasik surgery can’t be performed. If you are given an all-clear for the surgery, the surgeon will take added precautions to perform Lasik. It typically takes about 30 minutes. Moreover, both eyes can be operated on the same day. It is essential to note that it takes a longer time to heal for diabetic patients after the surgery. You will be closely monitored for any signs of infection. Furthermore, the eye doctor will take extra measures in giving you after surgery care. Since performing Lasik surgery on diabetic patients is a complex task which must be carefully performed, it is essential that you are careful in selecting the eye doctor who performs your procedure. If you are looking for an experienced doctor to perform Lasik surgery for diabetic retinopathy treatment in UAE, feel free to contact Royal Spanish Center. Our highly trained team will thoroughly analyze your condition and determine the best way to move forward with the treatment. You even get a 10% discount if you apply online. For details, contact us today
Treating Diabetic Retinopathy
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