After her afternoon nap, 56-year-old Aunt Zhao suddenly found she couldn't see out of her left eye, and her right eye was also becoming blurry. Terrified, she quickly asked her husband to take her to a nearby eye center for examination. To her surprise, the disease that nearly caused her blindness was also found in her husband...

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Couple Nearly Blinded by Diabetes

One day in mid-February, after her afternoon nap, Aunt Zhao suddenly realized she couldn't see out of her left eye, and her right eye was also becoming blurry. Filled with fear, she immediately asked her husband to take her to the Ophthalmology Center of Taihe Hospital for an examination.

The doctor informed Aunt Zhao that her eyes had developed diabetic retinopathy, with significant retinal hemorrhages in both eyes, and the condition was already very severe. It turned out that she had experienced blurry vision symptoms three years earlier but had ignored them because there was no pain or discomfort. It wasn't until this sudden loss of vision that she sought medical help, but it was already too late.

"I had never heard of diabetic retinopathy and never knew diabetes could have such a severe impact on the eyes," said Aunt Zhao, who was unaware of the condition until it caused irreversible damage. Upon learning about his wife's situation, Aunt Zhao's husband also underwent an examination. As expected, he, too, was found to have retinopathy due to his diabetes. Ultimately, both husband and wife were admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The chief physician at the Ophthalmology Center performed minimally invasive vitreous surgery on her left eye, ultimately helping her retain partial vision. Aunt Zhao's husband also required a period of medication-based treatment.

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Increase in Diabetic Eye Disease Patients

Diabetic eye disease, along with glaucoma and cataracts, is one of the world's three leading causes of blindness. In recent years, many people have become more aware of traditional eye diseases like glaucoma and cataracts and seek timely treatment. However, awareness of diabetic eye disease remains insufficient, and its recognition rate is not high.

"Generally, diabetic patients may develop retinopathy after 8 to 10 years of disease progression. However, because the eye disease develops slowly and has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, it is easily overlooked." Clinically, many diabetic patients lack awareness of the disease or neglect regular check-ups. By the time their vision severely declines or they even lose their sight, they seek ophthalmological care, missing the optimal treatment window.

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, the incidence of retinopathy has also risen year by year. In recent years, ophthalmology centers in major hospitals across the country have seen a significant increase in patients with diabetic eye disease.

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High Blindness Rate from Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes has a significant impact on the eyes. In the early stages, it can damage the cornea, causing dryness and discomfort. Later, it may lead to lens opacity, resulting in diabetic cataracts and vision decline. The most severe complication is diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a very serious microvascular complication. Prolonged high blood sugar levels keep the fundus in a state of ischemia and hypoxia. To ensure an adequate supply of blood and oxygen, many new blood vessels grow on the retina. These vessels are "congenially malformed," very fragile, and prone to rupture. When a large amount of blood enters the eye, it can cause sudden vision loss, making treatment extremely difficult. In addition to bleeding, the growth of new blood vessels can also pull on surrounding fibrous tissue. If the retina is pulled for an extended period, it can lead to retinal detachment and vision loss. New blood vessels may also grow toward the front of the eye, causing glaucoma.

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Therefore, diabetic retinopathy is a disease with a very high blindness rate.

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Diabetic Patients Should Undergo Regular Fundus Examinations

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Although diabetic retinopathy poses significant risks, early detection and timely treatment can effectively prevent blindness.

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First, it is essential to maintain control over blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels to prevent the condition from worsening.

Second, adhere to regular ophthalmology clinic visits for fundus examinations to detect new blood vessels early. Early-stage diabetic retinopathy responds well to treatment, effectively preventing blindness. Moreover, early intervention typically requires only retinal laser therapy, which is far less costly than long-term treatment.

Finally, diabetic patients should improve their understanding of diabetic retinopathy. While maintaining healthy eye habits, they should seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as decreased vision, double vision, flashes of light, eye pressure or pain, or visual field defects.