ASK YOUR PHARMACIST – Diabetic Eye Disease
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A CAPSULAR MOMENT
From www.connecticut-eye-care-center.com
Diabetic Eye Disease
By David Bodunde
I paid a visit to the travelling eye van that has been in Manitouwadge for the past two weeks, to have my eye’s checked out by the travelling ophthalmologist. Before my eye examination, I had a session with the diabetic team which was conducting routine diabetic examinations on patients before their eye appointment. My results were fine but I garnered that a lot of people with eye problems don’t pay attention to their diabetic status.
There is a close correlation between diabetes and eye disease. Diabetic eye disease is a combination of problems, all leading to the eventual dimming of sight, and often blindness.
Diabetic eye disease may include:
Diabetic retinopathy
With Diabetic retinopathy there are often no symptoms, no pain, no changes in vision. But what happens is that the blood vessels that supply the retina begin to swell, or grow out of control and cover the retina. The swollen blood vessels can leak, causing vision to blur (macular oedema)
Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs when there is increase in pressure inside the eye, leading to damage of the optic nerve and vision loss. There are two types of glaucoma. The more common is the open angle glaucoma, where the liquid that fills the eye goes in at the regular rate, but can’t drain out of the eye fast enough. The pressure builds gradually over time, slowly damaging the optic nerve. Vision becomes narrower and more tunnel like often without you even being aware of the changes until it is too late.
It doesn’t take long for the damage to be done, sometimes within just a few years! Glaucoma can’t be cured but it can be treated effectively.
A more dangerous type is the narrow angle glaucoma. Some individuals have a shallow space between the cornea at the front of the eye and the colored iris that lies just behind the cornea. As the eye ages, the natural lens behind the pupil grows and the pupil becomes smaller, restricting the floe of fluid to the drainage site. Fluid can build up behind the iris, pushing it forward and blocking the channel (angle) that normally allows aqueous fluid to drain. If blockage happens, a rapid rise in eye pressure can occur.
Complete blockage of this channel can lead to pain, nausea, and redness of the eye, and blurred vision which can be precursors to blindness within days. Screening and regular eye exams can detect this condition and prevent damage.
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CataractsCataracts are a condition in which the lens or the capsule of the eye becomes cloudy and impairs vision. Diabetics are twice as likely as the rest of the population to develop cataracts and at an earlier age. The key, as with retinopathy and glaucoma, lies with early detection. The cloudy lens of the eye, through which we view the world, can be surgically removed and replaced with an artificial one. Clearer vision is restored quickly.
Vision loss from diabetic eye disease is very preventable and entails regular eye exams, especially if you are a diabetic.
Non-drug Treatments
The very best form of treatment or prevention of diabetic eye disease is close control of blood glucose levels and regular eye checkups. High blood sugar levels may cause temporary blurriness, and studies have shown that people with closely controlled glucose levels have 25% less chance of developing retinopathy.
High blood pressure control is also very important. High blood pressure can cause the already swollen eye vessels to expand and leak even more. It has also been found that individuals who smoke are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy. Cigarette smoke contains eye damaging free radicals.
Nutrition and OTC (Over the Counter) Treatments
There are many different types of antioxidants that help squelch the free radicals found in pollution, UV rays, and cigarette smoke. Look for both supplements and foods high in beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Carotenoids are found in bright-colored foods like egg yolk, corn, spinach, red grapes, oranges, and bell peppers.
The minerals zinc and selenium are also powerful antioxidants that may protect the eye tissue from damage.
To speak with David Bodunde, Rph in person, visit the Manitouwadge Pharmacy, Unit 2, Hallmarket Square in Manitouwadge or call 826.3888
The opinions expressed on OntarioNewsNorth.com and by David Bodunde,Rph are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Please consult a local physician or other health care professional for your specific health care and/or medical needs or concerns.
Neither OntarioNewsNorth.com nor David Bodunde,Rph endorse or recommend any commercial products, medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, brand names, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and education of the viewing public, and the mention of any of the above on OntarioNewsNorth.com does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by OntarioNewsNorth.com or David Bodunde, Rph.
