ReadersDigestAustraliaNewZealand-April2018

April• 2018 | 107

READER’S DIGEST

Ophthalmologists can easily iden-

tify a detached retina. Reattaching it

quicklycanrestorevision.

Although it is complex and diicult

surgery, surgeons get good results.

In 2014, Tom Greenberg had no

idea that he had a detached retina.

“I started seeing a dark blob on

the edge of my ield of vision, and it

would move around some as I moved

my eyes,” says Greenberg, now in his

late 60s.

Hewaitedaweekbeforeseeking

help.Althoughasurgeonreattached

his retina, vision in that eye remains

distorted. When his other eye ex-

hibited identical symptoms in 2017,

Greenberg acted quickly – he had

surgerythatday,andthevisionin

thateyeisasgoodasitwasbefore.

Lifestyle changes can’t prevent

age-related retinal detachment, but

youcanpreserveyoursight byget-

ting treated promptly.

Topreventvisionloss

from detached retina

Question visual obstructionsThey

may signal a detached retina. If you

suddenly see stars or floaters or

soot-particle flakes, you should go

and see your eye doctor, because

this may be an emergency.

Seek care immediatelyDelaying

canleadtopermanentvisionloss.

If you see dark clouds or really

strongflashes,orshadowsordark

wallscomingup,youshould see

a specialist at once.

loss,inmostofthecases,ifitisdiag-
nosedearlyandtreated.”
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
is usually treated with laser surgery
to reduce bleeding at the back of the
eye.Aseparatecondition,called
diabeticmacularoedema(DME),is
developedbyabouthalfofthosewith
diabetic retinopathy. DME is treated
with regularly scheduled anti-VEGF
intra-ocular injections, which block a
proteinthatcanstimulateabnormal
bloodvesselstogrowandleak luid.

To reduce your risk of
diabetic retinopathy

Control your blood glucose“We
candoalot,butwedonothavea
chance if the glucose levels are not
controlled well,” Agostini says.
Seeaneyedoctor.Go when you’re
diagnosed with diabetes, then
annually thereafter.

DETACHED RETINA

Retinaldetachmentisamedical
emergency and is more common
afterage40.It’softencausedbythe
ageing process.
he interior of the eye is illed with
agel-likesubstance,thevitreous.
As you get older, the vitreous can
shrink,anditmaypullontheretina
asitshifts.Sometimes,itpullswith
enough force to tear the retina, sep-
aratingitfromthebackoftheeyeso
that the retina can’t work properly.