Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetic Eye Disease
How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes
Diabetes is a disease that may affect many parts of your body. Fluctuating glucose, or blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes, especially those within the retinas. These vessels may leak, weaken or close. New vessels may also grow on your retina. Any of these conditions will negatively impact your vision. People with diabetes are at risk of developing these disorders as well as pregnant women, African-Americans, Hispanics, Native-Americans and individuals with high blood pressure.
Early Detection Is Key
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 90 percent of diabetes-related eye disease is treatable so long as the early signs are detected immediately. That’s why it is so important for you to get annual eye exams and visit your doctor as soon as you notice your vision deteriorating in any way.
What Are Common Diabetic Eye Disorders?
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic macular edema occurs when the small blood vessels of your retina swell and cystic intraretinal fluid impacts the area. This may happen either in a localized area or throughout the retina. As a result, the retina may thicken and exudate. Treatments include intravitreal pharmacotherapy and macular laser procedures.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy occurs when you have dot-blot hemorrhages, cotton spots, venous beading or intraretinal microvascular anomalies while neovascularization is not present. When neovascularization is present, diabetic retinopathy is considered proliferative and may significantly threaten your vision.
Other Eye Conditions
Diabetic papillitis, dry eyes, neurotrophic keratopathy, posterior subcapsular cataracts and
microvascular ischemic cranial nerve palsies may also occur as a result of fluctuating blood sugar levels and diabetes. If you have any questions about diabetic eye disease and your risk for developing a similar condition, call our team today.
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