<p>People with diabetes have a high chance of losing their eyesight because of the condition called Diabetic Retinopathy - a retinal problem caused due to high blood sugar levels. Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the diabetes related eye problems and a prime reason of blindness or severe visual impairment caused by diabetes.</p>
<p>So, yes, diabetes can cause blindness and you could go blind if you have high and uncontrolled diabetes and you are not taking the necessary preventive measures for your eyes.</p>
<p>The good news is that diabetic retinopathy is treatable with the correct course of treatment methods and lifestyle changes as recommended by the doctor.</p>
<p>To learn what <a href="../../blog/diabetic-retinopathy-treatment-options">treatments are available for diabetic retinopathy</a>, you must first understand what it is.</p>
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<h2>What is Diabetic Retinopathy?</h2>
<p>Diabetic Retinopathy caused by diabetes is a condition in which high blood sugar affects the blood vessels in the eye or attached to the retina. Therefore, it causes the blood vessels to leak, adversely affecting the retina and causing it to swell. Sometimes, new blood vessels can grow that are weak and can cause further damage to the eyes causing vision loss due to diabetes.</p>
<h2>What are the signs &amp; symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?</h2>
<p>You must visit the doctor once you start to see&nbsp;<a href="../../blog/diabetic-retinopathy-signs-symptoms-causes-treatment">symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy</a> or any change in the vision. If you have diabetes related eye issues such as Diabetic Retinopathy, you might experience the following signs &amp; symptoms:</p>
<p>&bull; Reduced peripheral vision<br />&bull; Impaired colour vision<br />&bull; Floaters or spots in the vision<br />&bull; Blurred vision<br />&bull; Dark areas in the vision<br />&bull; Night blindness</p>
<p>The retina specialist doctor will examine the condition by taking a look inside the eyes and might use a dye to check for any leakage. The dye is injected into the vein, which travels through your blood, and a special camera is used to photograph the severity of the condition and see if there is any abnormal blood vessel growth.</p>
<p>To understand what diabetic retinal treatments are best for you, a retina specialist also might do an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This is done to examine the retina closely to determine the macula (part of the retina) swelling.</p>
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<p>Are you suffering from Diabetes related eye problems?</p>
<p>Do not delay your treatment, consult with Retina specialist doctor.</p>
<p><strong><a href="../../book-doctor-appointment" target="_blank">BOOK DOCTOR APPOINTMENT</a></strong></p>
<h2>Can Diabetic Retinopathy be Treated?</h2>
<p>&bull; If the condition is at its initial stage, you can treat it by managing your diabetes. It helps prevent the condition from progressing. However, Retina treatment is only required when it reaches the advanced level and become the reason for vision loss and distorted vision which might deteriorate further causing permanent vision loss due to diabetes.</p>
<p>&bull; Eye surgery removes the scar tissue and blood from the eyes. This is also known as vitreoretinal surgery. A small incision is made in your eyes before removing the scar tissues.</p>
<p>&bull; In most cases, an anti-VEGF injection may be given to you to prevent any further formation of blood vessels in the eye. This helps prevent the condition from getting worse and also might improve your vision. Laser surgery is done to stop the swelling in your retina, swelling, and the growth of the new fragile blood vessels in your eyes.</p>
<p>The only way to control diabetic retinopathy is to keep your diabetes in check. Here's how you can do it by making changes to your lifestyle as recommended by the doctor.</p>
<h3>Make Lifestyle Changes</h3>
<p>Exercise regularly and try to lose extra weight. A study revealed that losing weight has reduced diabetic progression by 7-10%. The best exercises that you can do are -</p>
<p>&bull; Aerobic Exercise<br />&bull; Limited Resistance Exercises</p>
<h3>Eat Healthy Plant Foods</h3>
<p>Plants provide vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates to humans. You can eat food that is rich in fibre, such as fruits, leafy green vegetables, etc.</p>
<h3>Eat Healthy Fats</h3>
<p>Foods rich in unsaturated fats, such as groundnut, peanut, salmon, sunflower oil, etc., are best to keep your cholesterol in check - which helps in lowering blood sugar.</p>
<p><a href="../../book-doctor-appointment" target="_blank"><img src="/backend/assets/img/blog-image/healthy food for diabetes related problem.jpg" alt="healthy eating food for diabetic patients" width="1000" height="400" /></a></p>
<p>If you are diabetic, it is important that you get your eyes examined by the retina specialist doctor even if you don&rsquo;t experience any vision problem presently. Generally Diabetic retinopathy might not show symptoms at early stage, but when it gets detected, it is already too late for the patient. Vision loss due to Diabetic retinopathy can not be restored. The eye specialist doctor can only save further vision loss and preserve your sight.</p>
<p>To know whether you suffer from diabetes related eye problems, consult with Retina Specialist Doctor. <a href="../../book-doctor-appointment" target="_blank"><strong>BOOK APPOINTMENT</strong>!</a></p>
<p>Want to know more about vision loss due to diabetes or blindness caused by diabetes, talk to our experts. <a href="../../contact-us" target="_blank"><strong>CONTACT US NOW</strong>!</a></p>
<h2>Frequently Asked Questions About Eye Problems Caused by Diabetes (FAQs):</h2>
<h3>Q1. What is the best way to control diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans: You can control your diabetes by maintaining a healthy diet. Eating foods rich in fibre such as - tomatoes, bell pepper, cauliflower, broccoli, etc. It can help you keep your weight in check. Also, eat fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines to promote healthy blood cholesterol levels. Lastly, do not forget to keep testing your blood sugar level and stay connected with your doctor.</p>
<h3>Q2. How can I control my diabetes on my own?</h3>
<p>Ans: Diabetes is a serious condition. All you need to do is make good and healthy choices, keep your weight maintained, exercise at least 30 minutes daily, and take medicines and insulin as prescribed by the doctors. The process is slow, but it is worth it.</p>
<h3>Q3. What food should diabetics avoid?</h3>
<p>Ans: If you're a diabetic patient, you must be very careful with the food you eat. Below are some of the foods that need to be avoided -</p>
<p>&bull; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages<br />&bull; Trans Fats<br />&bull; Rice, Pasta, and White Bread<br />&bull; Sweetened Yoghourt<br />&bull; Sweetened Breakfast Cereals<br />&bull; Coffee and Drinks</p>
<p><a href="../../blog/eye-problems-blindness-caused-by-diabetes" target="_blank"><img src="/backend/assets/img/blog-image/diabetic retinopathy risk factors.jpg" alt="diabetic retinopathy risk factors" width="1000" height="400" /></a></p>
<h3>Q4. What are the risk factors for diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans: The risk factors depend on the type of diabetes you have. The risk factors for type I diabetes are -</p>
<p>&bull; Physical Stress<br />&bull; Exposure to illness<br />&bull; Presence of antibodies<br />&bull; Family history</p>
<p>The risk factors for type II diabetes are -</p>
<p>&bull; Overweight/Obesity<br />&bull; Being physically inactive<br />&bull; Being 45 years of age or above<br />&bull; Having gestational diabetes<br />&bull; Being Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Black</p>
<h3>Q5. Can stress cause diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans: Stress is not the direct cause of diabetes. However, it can affect your blood sugar level. We can say, diabetes can be one of the causes of stress as it can be very difficult to manage everything along with being a diabetic patient.</p>
<h3>Q6. Can you suddenly go blind from diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans: Diabetes can cause vision loss or distorted vision, but not suddenly. This happens over a period of time. When you get older with diabetes, your vision starts becoming blurred, and your arteries in the eye might swell or leak showing symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy. Eventually, if the condition is left untreated or overlooked, it can create more diabetes related eye problems and vision loss due to diabetes. So, there are chances that diabetes can cause blindness.</p>
<h3>Q7. What are the chances of going blind from diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans: Many people suffer from impaired vision due to diabetes. However, there are only a few of them (less than 5%) who have the chance of going blind from the condition.</p>
<h3>Q8. Is diabetic blindness reversible?</h3>
<p>Ans: There are certain&nbsp;<a href="../../blog/diabetic-retinopathy-treatment-faqs-suggestion">diabetic retinopathy treatment plans</a> that might stop the condition from getting worse. But blindness caused by diabetes is not reversible. However, you can take some precautions to keep your diabetes in check.</p>
<h3>Q9. How do I know if diabetes is affecting your eyes?</h3>
<p>Ans: If you have diabetes, you might feel blurred vision due to swelling of the lens. Hence, if your blood sugar level fluctuates your vision might get affected.</p>
<h3>Q10. What are the warning signs of diabetic retinopathy?</h3>
<p>Ans. In the beginning, there might be no symptoms. However, as the condition progress, you might experience the following signs -</p>
<p>&bull; Fluctuating vision or spectacle power<br />&bull; Blurred Vision<br />&bull; Dark or empty areas<br />&bull; Decreased peripheral vision<br />&bull; Spots or dark string floating</p>
<h3>Q11. Can lowering blood sugar improve vision?</h3>
<p>Ans. Impaired vision is caused due to a rise in the blood sugar level. High blood sugar can also cause swelling in the lens. So, to correct the blurred vision, you need to get your blood sugar level back into the normal range.</p>
<h3>Q12. How can I protect my eyes from diabetes?</h3>
<p>Ans. Below are a few ways to protect your eyes from diabetes -</p>
<p>&bull; Go for eye checkup even if you don&rsquo;t have any vision problem or symptoms <br />&bull; Manage or control your blood sugar level<br />&bull; Keep your blood pressure in check<br />&bull; Exercise and eat healthy foods regularly</p>
<h3>Q13. How quickly can diabetes affect your eyes?</h3>
<p>Ans. When blood sugar increases it can easily affect the eyes. It can cause serious conditions like <a href="../../blog/what-is-diabetic-retinopathy">Diabetic Retinopathy</a>, if left unchecked and untreated. However, it does not happen in a week or so, it takes a few years to affect your vision.</p>
<h3>Q14. How often does diabetes can cause blindness?</h3>
<p>Ans: Diabetes can cause impaired vision in many people. However, it can also cause permanent blindness if left untreated. Diabetic patients might not remain aware of diabetes related eye issues, so it is important that people suffering from diabetes get their eye checked by an eye specialist even if they don&rsquo;t experience any vision problem.</p>
<h3>Q15. What percentage of diabetics become blind?</h3>
<p>Ans: Though diabetes affects many people and might also cause blurred vision. But only 5% of diabetic patients become blind. The reason for this is neglected or delayed treatments.</p>
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<h2>Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment at Bihar&rsquo;s Largest Eye Hospital</h2>
<p>Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital does over 90,000 eye surgeries annually and stands as the <a href="../../">largest eye hospital in Eastern India</a>. With the speciality Retina Clinic at the Mastichak hospital, Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital is considered to be a trusted and preferred eye hospital for retina related treatments in Bihar.</p>
<p>If you have already been identified as a patient of diabetic retinopathy, visit Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital for a second consultation by experienced and senior retina specialist doctors. Get your eyes checked and operated by experienced retina surgeons at the speciality Retina Clinic.</p>
<p><strong>Retina Clinic Address:</strong><br />Mastichak, Pojhi Parsa, Saran, Bihar &ndash; 841219.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Working Hours:</span><br />Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM<br />Saturday: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM<br />Sunday closed. <br /><strong>Helpline:&nbsp;<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=+91%209262971777&amp;text=Hi." target="_blank">9262971777</a> (WhatsApp)</strong><br /><a href="../../location-details/akhand-jyoti-eye-hospital-mastichak" target="_blank"><strong>CLICK HERE</strong></a> to find the location/ address on Google.</p>
<p>To consult a retina specialist doctor,&nbsp;<strong><a href="../../book-doctor-appointment" target="_blank">BOOK APPOINTMENT ONLINE</a></strong></p>
<p>If you want a callback from our experts, <a href="../../contact-us" target="_blank"><strong>CONTACT US</strong></a>. Our executive will call you.</p>
<p><em>Do not consider this blog post as medical advice. We suggest you consult with the doctor to know about your eye condition and treatment procedure. Only the doctor can suggest you treatment after examining your eyes.</em></p>