One of the main causes of blindness in Portugal

"Being several the complications caused by diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is probably the one patients fear the most," says the SPO in a statement. This is because, being a disease that can go on for years without symptoms, about 98% of type 1 diabetics and 50% of type 2 have eye lesions after 20 years of disease.

The SPO is peremptory: "Patients should never wait for the appearance of symptoms to consult their ophthalmologist or do the screening". "In fact, when symptoms appear, it may already be too late to recover the lost vision", says Rufino Silva, president of the SPO, in the same press release.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy is implemented nationwide and is essential to reduce vision loss and blindness associated with this condition. When there is no timely treatment, diabetic retinopathy may end up in irreversible blindness with high costs for the patient and for society in general. Data from SPO show that about 95% of the cases of severe vision loss and blindness resulting from diabetic retinopathy could have been avoided with correct prevention, careful monitoring and timely treatment.

Lilianne Duarte, member of the board of directors of the SPO, stresses that "the sooner the necessary treatments are done, the better the prognosis for long-term vision". "It is extremely important to do the screenings and ophthalmology consultations in time. And of course, if diabetics have good control of their diabetes and blood pressure and do physical exercise, the onset of diabetic retinopathy can be prevented or delayed and its progression more favourable."

Read more at:
https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/lifestyle/1870568/esta-e-uma-das-principais-causas-de-cegueira-em-portugal