Diabetes eye health

12 de April de 2022

How does diabetes affect eye health?

In general term, more than half of all diabetic patients who have suffered from the disease for 15 years or more have some degree of retinal vascular disorder.

Almost all patients who have suffered from the disease for more than 30 years show signs of Diabetic retinopathy, one of the main causes of severe working-age vision loss in developed countries.

Retina check up for diabetic patient

Diabetic patients are up to 25 times more likely to suffer complete loss of sight than people without the disease.

Good control of diabetesand regular eye examinations can delay the onset of retinopathy and prevent its most serious forms.

On what does the degree of eyesight damage from diabetes depend?

Visual impairment that results from diabetes does not necessarily have to become severe, and it depends on three factors:

  • The degree of severity of the diabetes.
  • The time to have elapsed since the start of the disease.
  • Its level of control by the patient.

Diabetes causes retinal vascular disorders

How can it be prevented?

  • Strict blood glucose monitoring.
  • Strict blood pressure monitoring.
  • Strict cholesterol monitoring.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Strict ophthalmic monitoring.

When and how often should you visit the ophthalmologist?

  • Type 1 diabetes: 3-5 after diabetes is diagnosed.
  • Type 2 diabetes: as soon as diabetes is diagnosed.
  • All diabetic patients: annual check-up with an ophthalmologist and check-ups according to the degree of vision loss of each patient.
  • Pregnant women, people with poor metabolic control and/or vision loss: check-ups are especially advisable.

After the first ophthalmological examination, all patients should undergo an annual ophthalmological check-up if no lesion is observed. The ophthalmologist will schedule examinations according to the degree of vision loss of each patient.

In all cases, it is better for the retinopathy to be diagnosed before symptoms appear, because the lesion is generally already severe at this point.

Diabetes-related eye disorders

IMO Institute of Ocular Microsurgery

Josep María Lladó, 3
08035 Barcelona
Phone: (+34) 934 000 700
E-mail: international@imo.es
See map on Google Maps

By car

GPS navigator coordinates:
41º 24’ 38” N – 02º 07’ 29” E

Exit 7 of the Ronda de Dalt (mountain side). The clinic has a car park with more than 200 parking spaces.

By bus

Autobus H2: Rotonda de Bellesguard, parada 1540

Autobus 196: Josep Maria Lladó-Bellesguard, parada 3191

Autobuses H2, 123, 196: Ronda de Dalt – Bellesguard, parada 0071

IMO Madrid

C/ Valle de Pinares Llanos, 3
28035 Madrid
Phone: (+34) 910 783 783
See map in Google Maps

Public transport

Metro Lacoma (líne 7)
Autobuses:

  • Lines 49 & 64, stop “Senda del Infante”
  • Line N21, stop “Metro Lacoma”

Timetables

Patient care:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

IMO Andorra

Av. de les Nacions Unides, 17
AD700 Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra
Phone: (+376) 688 55 44
See map in Google Maps

IMO Manresa

C/ Carrasco i Formiguera, 33 (Baixos)
08242 – Manresa
Tel: (+34) 938 749 160
See map in Google Maps

Public transport

FGC. Line R5 & R50 direction Manresa. Station/Stop: Baixador de Manresa

Timetables

Monday to Friday, 08:30 A.M – 13:30 PM / 15:00 PM – 20:00 PM

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