Diabetic retinopathy risks and prevention

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina. If not diagnosed and controlled early, the condition can lead to significant ocular complications and even blindness.

Experts from the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO) and the Brazilian Diabetes Society emphasize that while diabetes affects the entire organism, the retina is one of the most sensitive organs to the vascular damage caused by the disease. Maria Auxiliadora Frazão, president of the CBO, notes that controlling blood glucose levels is vital for eye health.

Medical professionals stress that vision loss is not inevitable for all diabetic patients. Complications typically arise when the disease is poorly managed or undiagnosed. To prevent damage, the CBO recommends that diabetic patients consult an ophthalmologist regularly, preferably once a year. The primary method for detecting this condition is the fundus examination.