Is your eyesight impaired due to diabetes? Let's talk about Diabetic Retinopathy

Are you someone who has diabetes? Then you definitely need to take care of your eyes. Maybe your doctor has told you about this. If diabetes is not well controlled, it can damage your eyesight over time. Today we are talking about the story of someone who went through such an experience and the lessons we can learn from it. We call this condition 'Diabetic Retinopathy'.

Don't blame yourself.

The gentleman who tells us this story was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in 2004. Unfortunately, it was too late when he found out. As a result, he has almost completely lost the vision in his right eye.

According to him, the symptoms first appeared a few months ago. While he was picking up something on the floor, he felt black jellyfish-like objects floating down in front of his left eye. So he went to an optician's shop to get his eyes checked. The optometrist there said he should see a retina specialist as soon as possible.

But at the time, he didn't have health insurance. So he put it off because he couldn't afford it. After a while, his symptoms became so severe that he had no choice but to undergo a surgery called a vitrectomy. Simply put, it's a surgery to remove the blood and fluid inside the eye and the scar tissue that was damaging the retina . A year later, he had to have the same surgery on his right eye, but by then it was too late. The retina in his right eye had completely detached and he had lost his vision.

At first, he blamed himself for all this and was very sad. He cursed himself, saying, "This happened because I didn't have enough money to spend." But now he realizes that it wasn't his fault.

"After those two surgeries, I lived in great fear. I was afraid that if I lost the sight in my left eye, I would become completely blind. It was very difficult to live with that kind of pressure."

But he gradually overcame that fear and learned to move forward. The best thing he did was to start taking better care of his diabetes. He knew that if he controlled his blood sugar levels well , he could reduce his risk of vision loss and other complications.

You can still live a normal life.

Fortunately, with minor adjustments, he can still carry out his daily activities. Although he can't read with his right eye, he can still drive and go to work because his left eye is good.

Now imagine, his left eye has 20/20 vision. But his right eye only has 10% vision. That means when he looks at something from the right, it looks blurry, like he's looking through a distorted mirror . He also sees lots of big black spots. So he's reduced his nighttime driving as much as possible. If he has to go on an essential trip, he drives the road several times during the day to get used to the road.

A few months ago, he developed a condition called corneal erosion in his left eye. This is a thinning of the surface layer of cells on the cornea. It is very painful and causes blurred vision. The symptoms are worst in the morning. Since this is also related to diabetes, he talked to his doctor and took the necessary steps.

If this happens to you, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor . If necessary, don't be afraid to explain your situation to your workplace and ask for the necessary accommodations.

The value of talking about this openly

The man who tells this story is a comedian. At first, he thought a lot about whether or not to tell the audience about his diabetes and eye condition. But one day, he saw another actor who was living with cancer talk openly about his condition on stage.

Later, the actor told this gentleman, "It's your responsibility to talk about your diabetes and your eyesight. Because your story could change someone's life."

He has come to realize that the story is true. After his shows, people come up to him and tell him their stories. And this openness helps in some difficult situations. One day, while he was performing on stage, he went too close to the edge and almost fell to the ground. Even though it was a small step, about 8 inches, it was very scary for someone with very poor vision in one eye!

Remember, this is not something you did, it's something diabetes did to you.

This openness has been a great way to educate people about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.

Be sure to get an annual eye exam!

If you have diabetes, it is essential to have all your medical checkups on time. This is when you can catch small problems before they become big ones. There is usually a schedule that a diabetic should follow.

Also, you need to be very careful about what happens to your eyes. People with diabetic retinopathy may often see black spots or webs that look like floaters in front of their eyes. The man who tells this story knows every floater he sees in his eyes. But if he notices something new , he pays close attention to it. If it doesn't go away after a couple of days, he sees an eye doctor right away.

Every morning, he gets out of bed, waits until his vision clears a little, and faces another day. That's what all of us with diabetes have to do. We have to face our challenges head on and commit to staying healthy.

Pay attention to your body, especially your eyesight. Then, enjoy your life to the fullest. This gentleman still dreams of riding a motorcycle. He has seen people riding motorcycles while blindfolded. So what can't he do?

Nothing is impossible. Don't let your Diabetic Retinopathy control you.