If blood sugar is not well controlled… ‘this’ develops in the eyes, increasing the risk of blindness

The number of diabetes patients is increasing, as the disease has emerged as a representative disease of modern people due to Westernized eating habits, lack of exercise, and sedentary lifestyles. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of diabetes patients in 2023 was 3,830,771, an increase of approximately 19% over five years compared to 2019. Diabetes is a disease that causes various complications, including eye-related complications, and caution is required as it can lead to glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.

 

Glaucoma is caused by damage to the optic nerve due to various factors, such as increased intraocular pressure. It is a disease that can cause the field of vision to gradually narrow and eventually lead to blindness. Glaucoma is one of the eye diseases where symptoms are difficult to recognize because abnormalities, such as the narrowing of the field of vision starting from the periphery, appear slowly only after more than 30% of the optic nerve has been damaged. Since it is difficult to recover a damaged optic nerve, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for glaucoma.

If you have diabetes, microvascular circulation is impaired, causing damage to the microvessels leading to the eyes. In this case, the eye may produce new blood vessels to supplement the insufficient blood and nutrients. Unlike normal blood vessels, these newly formed vessels are very weak and unstable, making them prone to rupture, bleeding, and inflammation. Furthermore, they obstruct the smooth flow of aqueous humor, which maintains intraocular pressure, thereby raising the pressure and potentially leading to glaucoma. This condition is known as 'neovascular glaucoma.'

 

Like general glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma is difficult to detect in the early stages. This is because intraocular pressure may remain normal if neovascularization is not detected in the anterior angle, which is responsible for intraocular pressure, or if the degree of neovascularization is minimal. However, if neovascularization occurs in the anterior angle, it affects the drainage of aqueous humor, the fluid flowing inside the eye, which can lead to elevated intraocular pressure, eye pain, conjunctival hyperemia, and corneal edema. When intraocular pressure rises, the optic nerve inside the eye is compressed and gradually weakens; consequently, the visual field slowly narrows and can eventually lead to blindness. Since it is difficult for a damaged optic nerve to recover and the risk of blindness is high without appropriate treatment, early detection and treatment are crucial for neovascular glaucoma.

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thus If you are a patient with diabetes, it is advisable to first strictly manage your blood sugar and undergo regular ophthalmological examinations to check for the presence of neovascularization in the iris or anterior chamber angle. Even if neovascularization has already occurred in the iris, if detected early, intravitreal injections or panretinal photocoagulation may be performed depending on the retinal blood circulation and the status of neovascularization. Additionally, depending on the patient's eye condition, if neovascular glaucoma has progressed significantly and intraocular pressure is high, eye drops to lower intraocular pressure or atropine eye drops to reduce pain may be administered, and steroid eye drops may be used if inflammation is present.

 

Dr. Jong-Jin Jeong, a specialist at the Glaucoma Center of Kim Eye Hospital, stated, “It is difficult to recognize or detect symptoms of neovascular glaucoma in its early stages.” He added, “If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to strictly manage your blood sugar levels and undergo regular ophthalmological checkups regardless of your eye symptoms to monitor for and manage the presence of neovascular glaucoma, thereby preparing for potential eye complications.”

 

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Since getting diabetes, I have been more prone to eye diseases.

I guess I need to manage this thoroughly.

 

Regularly visiting the hospital for checkups

I think that method is the best.