Diabetic Retinopathy affects almost 80% of patients suffering from diabetes for 10 years or more. If ignored, this disease can lead to partial or complete blindness; however, according to experts, this can be avoided with regular check-ups. Although most of the diabetic retinopathy treatments are concentrated in allopathic medicine practices, there some very reliable Ayurvedic remedy for eye diseases too.
There are four stages of diabetic retinopathy – Mild Non-proliferative, where there is slight swelling in the retina blood vessels, Moderate Non-proliferative, where the blood vessels start to get blocked, Severe Non-proliferative, where the blood supply to the retina is cut off significantly and Proliferative, where there is blood loss from the retinal veins leading to blindness.
The best preventive measure to avoid this condition is regular check-ups from the very beginningwhich may help in determining any leaking blood vessels, swelling and deposits in retina and damaged nerve tissues.
A usual check-up for diabetic retinopathy involves either all or any one of the following examinations:
Visual Acuity Test: This is a regular eye test to measure the vision at a distance.
Pupil Dilation: This test involves dilating the pupils with eye-drops to have a better look at the retina for any symptoms.
Fundus Photography/Ophthalmoscopy: This is similar to an x-ray and involves getting a photographic image of the fundus for detecting any symptoms of the degenerative ailment.
Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) : In this too a photographic image of the eye vasculature is taken with the technique involving circulation of Fluorescein dye.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): This is similar to an ultrasound and involves taking cross-sectional images of the retina to determine its thickness and then be able to detect any swelling of the blood vessels.
With the advanced stages of this condition, it is always advised to opt for immediate preventive course of action; however, with the early stages along with the allopathic medications, patients can also look at alternative methods like Ayurveda for Diabetic Retinopathy. Ayurveda is known to be able to work at the root level of the condition and also help in controlling diabetes which allows the retina to stay healthy for longer periods of time.
