Diabetic retinopathy and cataract: what you need to know

Free Malaysia Today

Ophthalmologist Dr Shobana Nadarajah shares insights into two common eye diseases in Malaysia.   Story by: Sheela Vijayan Shot by: Fauzi Yunus & Hizami Safri Presented by: Theevya Ragu Edited by: Kris Rajendran  Read More : https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2024/06/07/understanding-diabetic-retinopathy-and-cataracts/  #FMTLifestyle #EyeCare #DrShobanaNadarajah #DiabeticRetinopathy #Cataract

Transcript

00:00 How much do you know about diabetic retinopathy and cataract,

00:05 two common eye diseases in Malaysia?

00:08 Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication that occurs in the retina.

00:15 The retina is the nerve of the eye.

00:17 And when I say microvascular, it means it affects tiny blood vessels in the eye.

00:21 The eyeball is so small, thus the blood vessels in the retina are also very fine.

00:26 Uncontrolled diabetes narrows the blood vessels and impedes oxygen flow to the nerve cells.

00:33 We usually see diabetic retinopathy in those who have uncontrolled diabetes,

00:38 when their sugars are constantly high.

00:40 At risk are those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as well as those who smoke or are pregnant.

00:49 Signs and symptoms would be blurry vision,

00:51 floaters, dark string-like objects moving in their vision, fluctuating vision.

00:57 Within a day, if they have sudden clear vision,

01:01 and after a meal everything becomes blurry and foggy for a couple of hours,

01:05 that is a sign of diabetes.

01:08 Or they find that their glasses suddenly are not clear, and then they go and get them changed,

01:12 and then again it becomes not clear.

01:14 So frequent change in glasses is also another sign of possible diabetes.

01:18 Prevention measures include controlling blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels,

01:25 as well as following a healthy diet and lifestyle.

01:29 As with any disease, early intervention is best,

01:33 so make it a point to screen for diabetic retinopathy alongside a comprehensive eye examination.

01:41 We all have a natural lens, and if that becomes cloudy for any reason,

01:47 then it's called a cataract.

01:48 Those who are at risk of developing a cataract are aged between 50 and 65,

01:54 or have diabetes which can speed up the progression of a cataract,

01:58 or have suffered a significant injury to the eye.

02:02 You are more prone to developing a cataract early if you have recurrent eye inflammation,

02:08 or if there is a chronic use of oral steroids.

02:11 Signs and symptoms include cloudy vision, sensitivity to light,

02:16 and frequently having to change one's glasses due to unclear vision.

02:21 These tend to come on gradually.

02:24 The only way to remove a cataract? Surgery.

02:27 With cataracts, a lot of patients come in late because they are afraid of surgery,

02:33 or they think there is no need for that.

02:35 But then that leads to them being homebound,

02:38 and not being able to do what they like, like playing golf, going for their walks,

02:43 or driving out to meet their friends.

02:45 That could lead to depression or self-isolation.

02:49 Cataract surgery now is very simple.

02:51 My advice would be to just see a doctor and get it done if it's necessary.

02:55 To find out more, check out the full article by logging on to FMT and following us here.

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