What is diabetic retinopathy?

I know this four-panel comic is scary! 😰

However, it is an engaging visual representation that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the dangers of diabetes to the eyes.

For individuals with diabetes, the retina, the light-sensing tissue of the eyes, is constantly at risk. This can lead to serious eye health issues at any time.

Basically, high sugar in the blood of diabetic people gradually damages blood vessels all over the body. Such damages also happen in the tiny blood vessels that go to the retina. The retinal blood vessels become harder and blocked with time, and subtle leakage may occur. When the disease has not been well controlled, the hostage retinal condition worsens, so the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) comes up to help. Instead, its action attracts the fragile neovascularization (NV) to get involved, and the condition progresses to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). 🤦‍♂️ That NV is a dangerous villain, very uncontrollable, and may cause violence at any time!! 😱😱😱

If minor violence occurs, the patient may feel subtle vision changes with more floaters; if it is serious, it may eventually lead to tractional retinal detachment and even blindness! 😭😭😭

What can you do as a diabetic to reduce the chance of violence? 🤔

1. Be well-informed that diabetes constantly threatens your eye health;

2. Control your diabetes through appropriate lifestyle modifications and medical interventions to maintain a less hostage retinal environment;

3. Get regular comprehensive eye examinations. If the villain NV shows up, you will have to deal with it as soon as possible.