Diabetes retinasis is the most common eye complication of type 2 diabetes. There are no visible symptoms at an early stage of the disease, or only a slight loss of vision and blurred vision, as if a veil were in front of the eyes, and many people are prone to misperceptions of overlooking or old-sighted behaviour. As the disease progresses, the retina’s blood vessels gradually undergo pathologies, microvascular tumors, haemorrhages, seepages, etc., at which time diabetic patients feel marked loss of sight, look at things that may be deformed, the line may become curved, and the vision may be impaired, with serious consequences for daily life, such as failure to read, drive or recognize the face of others. If treatment is not provided in a timely manner, the disease continues to deteriorate, leading to severe effects such as retina detached, neovascular glaucoma and even blindness. In addition to retinasis, diabetes causes cataracts. Diabetes-related cataracts occur earlier and more rapidly than common older cataracts. Diabetes sufferers feel that their eyesight is gradually declining, with a fixed shadow in front of them and even worse in the light. This is because high blood sugar affects the metabolism of the crystals and makes them mutilated, thus hindering the normal reflection of light and affecting visual imaging.
In addition, diabetes can lead to eye neurosis, affecting eye movement and regulation. Diabetes patients may be re-sighted, i.e. when looking at an object they feel two images, or when their eyeballs are inflexible and their eyes are prone to fatigue, dryness, pain, etc. These symptoms not only affect the quality of the vision, but may also interfere with the sense of balance and the ability to coordinate the body and increase the risk of falling down.
Why would type 2 diabetes cause so much eye damage? This is because the long-term state of high blood sugar can damage the microvascular and nervous aspects of the eye. High blood sugar thickens, hardens and increases the permeability of retina vascular walls, leading to leaching in blood and affecting the normal functioning of the retina. At the same time, high blood sugar disrupts the nutritional supply and signal transmission of eye nerves and causes neurosis.
In sum, it is important for type 2 diabetes patients to be aware of the potential threat to their eyes and to take active measures to protect their vision from the dark world caused by eye complications.
