Diabetes and Eye Disease
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. Diabetic eye disease includes: diabetic retinopathy, cataract, glaucoma, and an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision.
What is the most common diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic retinopathy. This disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.
What are the symptoms of diabetic eye disease?
There are often no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. There is no pain and vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Blurred vision may occur when the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision) swells from the leaking fluid. This condition is called macular edema. If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking vision. Even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a long way without symptoms. This symptomless progression is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important.
Who is most likely to get diabetic retinopathy?
Anyone with diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Between 40-45 percent of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
How is diabetic retinopathy detected?
If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam, which means eye drops are used to enlarge your pupils. This dilation allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of your eyes to check for signs of the disease.
What can you do to protect your vision?
Finding and treating the disease early, before it causes vision loss or blindness, is the best way to control diabetic eye disease. So if you have diabetes, make sure you get a comprehensive dilated eye examination at least once a year.
What Should You Do?
- Diabetes is a disease that can cause very serious health problems. If you have diabetes:
- Know your ABCs: A1C (blood glucose), blood pressure (BP), and cholesterol numbers.
- Take your medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
- Monitor your blood sugar daily.
- Reach and stay at a healthy weight.
- Get regular physical activity.
- Quit smoking.
The doctors at Spex Expressions have been treating patients with Diabetic Eye Disease for over 15 years. If you need help managing your diabetes and vision problems, contact our physicians today and schedule an appointment.
