Diabetic Eye Diseases

Diabetic eye disease encompasses a group of eye conditions that affect people with diabetes. They are broken down into four major groups: retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts. The best way to avoid the devastating effects of these diabetic eye diseases is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and seek regular eye care, as early detection is vital.

While your regular optometrist will monitor the health of your eyes and may even provide treatment for some conditions, he will likely refer you to an ophthalmologist like Dr. Vaughn at Insightful Eyecare in Inglewood, California for further treatment or surgery if needed.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the small blood vessels on the retina become damaged and cause injury to the retina. The retina is located at the back of the eye. It senses light and transmits messages to the brain which in turn produces the image you see of the world around you. When the retina is damaged, vision can become distorted or lost.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema refers to a swelling of the macular, which is the part of the retina that you use for reading and seeing fine details. This causes partial vision loss. Diabetic macular edema typically occurs in people with diabetes who have already experienced some diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes what many refer to as tunnel vision, as the vision around the outside of the eye becomes blurred during the early stages of the disease. Left untreated, glaucoma can progress to total blindness. Glaucoma is caused by high pressure inside the eye. The good news is that is simple to address if detected early enough. Eyedrops will lower the pressure inside the eye and can often stop the progression of glaucoma. Other remedies include surgery to release pressure in the eye.

Cataracts

Cataracts are common in the elderly, but if you have diabetes you may develop them at a younger age. It is thought that high cholesterol levels (common in those with diabetes) expedite buildup in the eye, clouding the lens and inhibiting clear vision. Surgery may be required to remove cataracts.

Preventing Diabetic Eye Disease

If you have diabetes, it is vital to maintain a healthy blood glucose level, control high blood pressure, and work to lower your cholesterol levels, as these all contribute to diabetic eye diseases. Diabetic eye diseases occur gradually, and may go unnoticed without a thorough eye exam at least once a year, or more often if your ophthalmologist or optometrist recommends it. If you have a diabetic eye disease or suspect that you may have one, Insightful Eyecare in Inglewood, California can provide you with the services you need to maintain your eye health. For more information about diabetic eye disease or to schedule an appointment, call us at (310) 671-0909.