Diabetes Eye Complications?by Adie
My father is 15 years type 2 diabetic, recently complaining of eye-pain, sometimes cannot see very well, other times his eyes are as red as blood; and I am concerned? What's the best way to overcome these eye problems? How can I help my daddy? He has been controlling very well his diabetes, but recently has some blood sugar spikes that we don't understand. No other medications he is using, only the same habits and eating the same foods. ANSWER: Hi Adie, It is good that you are taking care of your daddy. In purpose to help you, firstly I want to clarify that diabetes eye complications are characterized by retinopathy. This is a condition during which the elevated blood glucose concentration causes clothing of the arteries supplying blood for the eye. This is not something good for the eye, because the blood provides nutrients and oxygen, which are needed from every tissue, including the eye. It is true that blurred vision, eye-pain, temporary loss of vision and redness of the eye are typical for diabetic retinopathy, but there are other conditions, which are leading to same symptoms. For example, one of the possible conditions, which can lead to such symptoms, is glaucoma. Important fact is that sometimes, certain cancers are leading to similar symptoms. However, I’m not able to tell you, if these symptoms are caused by either diabetes, glaucoma or something else, because several tests have to be estimated. The only way to help your daddy is to take him to ophthalmologist, which can establish the exact cause and the correct treatment. Besides this, it would be better for him to visit endocrinologist, because diabetes requires treatment, especially when there are spikes in the blood glucose concentration. I hope that your father will get better soon and everything is caused by something not-serious! Dr.Alba |