Diabetes and glaucoma are very common health conditions among Indians. It’s a well-known fact that people with diabetes are at higher risk of different other diseases. And Glaucoma is one of them. There are various damaging signs of glaucoma that come with prolonged diabetes in a person. So visiting the best eye doctor in Mumbai or anywhere you live must be your first priority if you notice such signs.
However, if you are not aware of diabetic glaucoma and its management, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll discuss some valuable information on prevention plans and treatment options for glaucoma in diabetic patients. So grab some coffee and keep on reading.
So first thing first, what is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a common eye condition in older people. It affects the optic nerve in the eye and often gets worse over time. It causes a sudden increase of pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure. So due to this pressure, the optic nerve in the eye that connects the eye to the brain gets damaged. Therefore, it blocks the way to its natural activity of sending images to the brain.
Once detected, proper treatment can stop any further damage. However, if the condition persists and is left untreated, the damage can worsen and cause permanent loss of vision. So visit the top glaucoma specialist in Mumbai to prevent vision loss.
Can diabetes cause glaucoma?
In the USA, 7.1% of people over 45 years of age with diagnosed diabetes were found to have glaucoma and 2.1% among them had lost eyesight because of glaucoma (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In India, we can assume that the numbers are nearly the same.
So yes, diabetes and glaucoma have a connection. Diabetes has innumerable damaging effects on several organs in the human body. It actually doubles the possibility of causing glaucoma in a person’s eye.
There are various other eye conditions that can also appear due to diabetes like diabetes retinopathy, cataract, etc. However, early detection and timely treatment are the keys to preventing further damage to eye health.
Why is diabetes risk for glaucoma?
Yes, it definitely can. Diabetic persons generally develop diabetic retinopathy in the eye. It’s one of the most common eye conditions for people with prolonged diabetes. However, age, elevated blood pressure, and poor management of blood sugar levels can increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
In a diabetic patient, fluctuations in body glucose levels can cause the blood vessels in the retina to damage and weaken. So when this happens, some abnormal blood vessels grow in the eye. These blood vessels block the natural drainage system in your eye, thereby causing the eye pressure to increase and eventually leading to glaucoma.
If you are looking for a reliable place for cataract surgery in Mumbai, Arohi Eye Hospital can be your first choice.
What are some symptoms of glaucoma?
In the early stages, glaucoma mostly does not show any symptoms. Since it causes a gradual decrease in the quality of eyesight, you might not notice any symptoms until it’s in an advanced stage. So here are some signs that you should watch for:
- Blind spots in peripheral vision
- Severe headache
- Sudden intense pain in the eye
- Blurry vision
- Redness in the eye
- Halos around lights
- Tunnel vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of vision and so on.
Hence, proper management of diabetes and glaucoma is the key to avoiding any damaging effects on your eyes.
Can diabetes increase your chances of having other eye conditions?
Diabetes is such a disease that gradually damages your overall health. So yes, if you manage your diabetes poorly, you could be exposed to various other eye diseases as well. Short-term spikes in your blood sugar level can cause high fluid levels or swelling in your eyes. This can cause temporary blurry vision. However, this issue can fade out over time.
But if you have prolonged unmanaged diabetes, you can have damaged blood vessels in your eyes. This can lead to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, and so on. So it’s wise to get your eyes checked with the best eye doctor in Mumbai
How to safeguard your eyesight if you have diabetes?
People with diabetes must maintain some precautions to protect their eyes and overall health. To reduce the risks of glaucoma and other eye problems with diabetes, you must do the following:
- Religiously follow the diabetes care plan that your doctor suggests. This will help keep your blood sugar levels in a secure range.
- Get your eyes checked with a specialist at least once a year.
- Do regular exercise to control your blood sugar level and keep yourself fit.
- Quit smoking as soon as you can.
- Apply the eye drops that your doctor might have prescribed or if you have to, take timely medicines for high pressure.
Get the best glaucoma treatment with the top glaucoma specialist in Mumbai
Diabetes and glaucoma are interrelated. Unmanaged diabetes can increase the risk of developing glaucoma. So if you have diabetes, take extra steps to care for your overall health. Arohi Eye Hospital is the leading place in Mumbai that provides 360-degree eye care services for various eye diseases including glaucoma. Besides providing the best cataract surgery in Mumbai, we also have the top glaucoma specialist in Mumbai. So if you are looking to get the best glaucoma care center for your eyes, get in touch with us.
Dr. Shradha Goel
Dr. Shradha Goel, Chief Surgeon at Arohi Eye Hospital, is a renowned Phaco-LASIK surgeon with over 10,000 surgeries to her credit. She earned her MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Ophthalmology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. As a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Goel specialises in LASIK, refractive errors, and cataract treatments.