Diabetes is not diabetes caused by eating too much sugar. It occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Sustained high blood sugar can cause serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth. In addition, people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing infections. Diabetes is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations in almost all high-income countries.
Shockingly, 1 in 10 adults has diabetes. Almost half go undiagnosed.
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 20-65 years. About one-third of people with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy, and one in 10 will develop the vision-threatening disease. About 70% of diabetic patients have systemic small blood vessel and microvascular disease
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications of diabetic microangiopathy, and has become the leading cause of blindness among adult blind people in developed countries.
In my country, with the increase of diabetic patients, DR has increasingly become an important eye disease that endangers the eyesight of middle-aged patients. Therefore, it is very necessary for the elderly, especially those with diabetes, to check their fundus regularly.
According to the latest epidemiological data in 2020, the proportion of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among patients with type 2 diabetes in my country is as high as 30.1%, and women are especially at greater risk.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the direct result of chronic high blood sugar that damages retinal capillaries, leading to leaky and clogged capillaries that can lead to vision loss and even blindness. Diabetes can also contribute to the development of eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors and double vision.
Diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness, but for most patients, blindness is largely preventable. Diabetic retinopathy is usually asymptomatic in its early stages and requires regular eye examinations to judge the condition of the retina and give appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
Diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed and promptly referred to an ophthalmologist for treatment, laser photocoagulation and/or intravitreal injections can stop further vision loss and in some cases even improve vision if treated early .
When DR progresses to advanced disease (vision has been impaired), the treatment options are very limited, and advanced DR requires repeated treatments (such as laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs), but the effect is often ineffective. Ideal, resulting in a heavy socio-economic burden. Therefore, it is of great significance to find out the risk factors that can help prevent the occurrence of DR and delay the progression of DR.