Eye checks are essential to detect eye complications arising from diabetes and prevent the possible loss of vision.

– it is estimated that the risk of blindness in diabetic is 25 times higher than the general population

-fluctuations in blood glucose levels can cause sudden changes in the graduation

Madrid, November 2011- more than four million people living with diabetes in SpainI figure that it represents approximately twelve percent of the population. These people are at increased risk of losing one of the most precious senses: vision. It is estimated that the risk of blindness in diabetic is 25 times higher than the general population. For this reason, the Council General of schools of Ópticos-Optometristas, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, calls special so that people with diabetes conciencien of essentials that are periodic checks, because early detection and treatment can limit the potential loss of vision.

But periodic checks are not only useful for detecting ocular complications of diabetes, but that can also be keys to detect diabetes itself, as warns the President of the Council General of schools of Ópticos-Optometristas, Juan Carlos Martínez morality: sometimes, the first signs of diabetes are discovered during a routine eye examination ”.

Ocular complications associated with diabetes

Diabetes is associated with a group of eye problems that can result in loss of vision or even blindness. In particular, people with diabetes are at increased risk of:

– diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina, the layer more internal eye, caused by an inappropriate glucose control over a prolonged period. Although most people with type 1 diabetes and many patients with type 2 diabetes will eventually experience some degree of retinopathy, early diagnosis and proper treatment can stop the loss of vision. People who suffer from diabetic retinopathy do not usually notice Visual drastic changes, especially at the start of his illness, when it can be treatable, what underlines the usefulness of the reviews periodic.

-falls, a darkening of the lens that blocks or changes the way in which light reaches the eye.

-Glaucomawhich is an increase in the fluid pressure inside the eye that causes damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Diabetics have double the risk of suffering from glaucoma than the rest of the people.

-Edema macular, an accumulation of fluid in the most sensitive area of the retina that causes blurred vision in the central or lateral part of the visual.

-the retinal detachment, one of the most common causes of blindness in diabetes, which occurs when blood vessels separated the retina in the back of the eye.

Changes in the graduation

In addition to these complications, in people with diabetes, fluctuations in blood glucose levels cause refractive changes, resulting in increases or decreases in visual acuity. In an episode of hyperglycaemia, lens experiences variations that lead to myopia, so the patient will have difficulties to see from far away. Controlling blood glucose quickly, just the opposite effect occurs.

All these changes are transitional until is reached the stabilization of blood glucose. So much so that continuous refractive changes may be a sign that the person suffers from diabetes, while already diagnosed patients often reflect a lack of metabolic control.

Disposable contact lenses, transitional solution

In these periods in which experienced refractive changes by a lack of glycemic control, the use of disposable contact lenses is recommended. Is a comfortable, quick and effective solution to avoid change of glasses lenses until graduation to stabilize ”, explains Martínez morality.

Reviews, according to the vital stage

To timely detect possible ocular complications in people with diabetes, should carry out ocular revisions in response to the vital stage:

– between 10 and 29 years, be a comprehensive review, as a minimum, between three and five years after the diagnosis of diabetes, and then, once a year.

-Older than thirty years should go to the specialist at the time of the diagnosis of diabetes and subsequently once a year.

-Pregnant women in State pre-diabético must undergo a revision eye before you get pregnant and during the first trimester of gestation.

-People with ocular complications with diabetes must be examined more frequently.