Introduction
Diabetes is a common lifestyle illness that can harm other organs of the body And eyes are one of the main organs that can get affected severely by diabetes.
Research has shown that patients with diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of developing cataracts, one of the main causes of blindness worldwide.
A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s, usually clear lens, that impairs vision. However, it’s crucial to realise that if you have diabetes, it can happen much earlier in life even though it is more common in older people.
Cataracts are two to four times more common in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetic patients. The main reason for performing cataract surgery in diabetics is to either improve poor vision or to treat diabetic retinopathy.
However, there are some things diabetics need to remember before getting the cataract surgery done:
Warning signs and symptoms of Cataract
- Blurry or unclear vision
- Reduced night vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Being unable to read in dimly lit spaces
- Prescription glasses frequently changed
Control your blood sugar levels
A person must have well-controlled diabetes, regular fasting, and post-lunch blood sugar levels before getting a cataract surgery done. The urine should be free of any indications or signs of sugar. In addition, the body should not exhibit any signs of infection. This important action can guarantee recovery from cataract surgery free of any complications.
Get a thorough eye evaluation before the surgery
Patients with diabetes should get a complete eye examination in the same manner as other patients. Determining whether diabetic retinopathy exists is also essential. For example, if macular oedema—swelling in the retina’s centre is present, that should be treated first. Once macular oedema has been managed, cataract surgery should be scheduled.
Depending on the degree of diabetic retinopathy, retina laser treatment may also be required. If retinal laser treatment is required, it should be performed before cataract surgery. For diabetic macular oedema, it is possible to combine Anti VGEF injection with other therapies.
Nutritional requirements
Before cataract surgery, those with diabetes should wait a few hours on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is preferable to plan your surgery relatively early in the day. This is done to prevent excessive fluctuations in sugar levels brought on by an empty stomach.
Keep it casual and refrain from wearing makeup
On the day of your surgery, a patient with diabetes should dress in cosy, practical clothing. The best options are flat shoes with strong, non-slip tread. Additionally, thoroughly wash the area around the surgery making it free of any dirt or cosmetics.
Final thoughts
The most common surgical procedure worldwide is cataract surgery. In most cases, it improves your vision. Because there are risks associated with any surgery, you can help minimise these risks by following your eye doctor’s instructions, managing your blood sugar with the help of some tips and taking any prescribed medications as directed.
People with diabetes are more likely to experience difficulties and a resulting decline in vision, despite the fact that cataract surgery can still produce outstanding results in these patients. Diabetic individuals can have successful cataract surgery with careful surgical planning, meticulous phacoemulsification, and attentive postoperative observation.
Furthermore, you should also undergo preventive health checkups. These health checkups give a complete report about your health, allowing you to take necessary precautionary measures to improve your well-being and keep a host of ailments at bay.
