Diabetes: why you need a fundus examination every year
Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina silently and remains a major cause of avoidable blindness. A simple yearly check makes all the difference — here is why.
Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels of the retina: this is diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in adults under 65 in developed countries. Yet it is preventable with regular follow-up.
Damage that stays invisible for a long time
Retinopathy develops without any symptoms: vision remains good even though the weakened vessels are already leaking. When vision drops, the damage is often advanced (macular oedema, bleeding). Hence the simple rule: do not wait until you see less well to have your retina checked.
What speeds up the damage
- poorly controlled blood sugar (high HbA1c) and how long you have had diabetes;
- high blood pressure;
- smoking and uncontrolled cholesterol.
Keeping diabetes and blood pressure well controlled directly protects the eyes — here the ophthalmologist and the GP (médecin traitant) work hand in hand.
A simple, quick screening
It is based on retinal photographs (pictures of the retina, often without dilation) and, if needed, a macular OCT. It is painless and carried out on site, in one visit.
Effective treatments when needed
If caught in time, advanced stages can be treated well: laser to stabilise the retina, intravitreal injections for macular oedema. Once again, everything depends on how early it is found — hence the yearly check.