How to Cure Diabetic Blindness
The most prevalent cause of vision loss in those with diabetes is diabetic macular edema, in which the blood vessels of the eyes leak and the retina swells, which then leads to difficulty focusing and blurry vision. According to DiabetesInControl.com, approximately 14 percent of those with diabetes have diabetic macular edema, and 25 percent of those experience loss of vision in three years. Although nothing can cure diabetic blindness 100 percent, there are ways to treat and prevent it.
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Prevention & Treatment
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In preventing diabetic vision loss, unless macular edema is present, treatment is not required during the first three stages of diabetic retinopathy. The best ways to prevent blindness include controlling blood sugar levels, maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels and lowering high blood pressure. It is easier to prevent a medical condition, such as diabetic blindness, than it is to treat it.
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Scatter laser treatment is used for proliferative retinopathy (a disease of the small blood vessels of the eye). During treatment, 1,000 to 2,000 laser burns are placed in the retina area in order to shrink the abnormal blood vessels. Three or more total laser sessions are usually required for the best success in preserving vision, although a patient can lose some side vision and experience a tiny reduction in light and color vision.
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For those whose laser eye treatments fail to work, steroids are a treatment option. With steroid therapy, a steroid (cortisone) is injected into the eyes while using a local anaesthetic. There are more serious side effects that con occur with steroid treatment, although they can also be treated. Cataracts can develop, and be removed with surgery. There is also an increased risk of pressure in the eye, which can lead to glaucoma if not treated.
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For diabetic patients with a bit of blood in the middle of the eye, vitrectomy may be required to restore vision. If both eyes need treatment, the procedures are done a few weeks apart. During the procedure, a local or general anaesthetic is used. The surgeon makes a very small cut in the eye and uses a tiny instrument to remove vitreous gel (in the center of the eye) that has become clouded with blood. A salt solution is used to replace the vitreous gel. As protection, a patch is placed over the eye after surgery, and eye drops are used.
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