Untreated early retinal diseases cause blindness

SHAFAQNA Türkiye – Specialist in ophthalmology, professor at Dunyagöz Hospital, Ankara. Dr. Mehmet Numan Alp: “One of the tissues that allows our eyes to see is the retina at the back of the eye, which we call the retina. We can imagine our eye as a sphere filled with a gelatinous fluid, and the back of the eye is covered with nerves and vessels. Uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure can damage the back of the eye and lead to problems that can lead to vision loss. Retinal detachment due to trauma or high myopia can cause retinal detachment if retinal breaks are not noticed in time and the necessary precautions are not taken. In such cases, vision loss can be prevented using vitreoretinal surgery techniques.

REGULAR CONDITION CHECK

Emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups, especially for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, Prof. Dr. Alp, “For those with unstable blood sugar levels, situations such as progressive deterioration of vision and deterioration in the quality of vision may occur. There may also be sudden loss of vision due to blockage of blood vessels. Sudden loss of vision is one of the symptoms of intraocular hemorrhage. In addition to loss of vision, in case of complaints such as blackouts and flies before the eyes, one should not waste time consulting an experienced ophthalmologist.

RETINA REMOVAL SHOULD BE TREATED IMMEDIATELY

prof. Dr. Alp said: “Diseases of the retina need to be treated before they have a lasting effect on nerve cells. In the event of a retinal detachment rupture, which may develop, in particular as a result of trauma or high myopia, it is necessary to intervene immediately. Because every moment spent without treatment can cause more damage to the cells, and with an excessive delay, visual function may not recover even with the intervention.

POST-SURGERY SUPERVISION IS IMPORTANT

prof. Dr. Alp, “In cases where the treatment of retinal diseases is delayed, visual function may not return even with anatomical tissue repair. Depending on the condition of the patient, we may inject gas or silicone into the eye as a buffer during the operation. During the recovery period after a vitrectomy, patients with gas or silicone in the eyes should follow the recommendations of their doctor. A second surgical procedure is required a few months later to remove the silicone in patients who have had silicone applied. In cases where gas is used, the gas disappears on its own over time. However, there may be some restrictions, such as not boarding a plane while gas is in the eye,” he said.