Diabetic Eye Care
If you or a loved one has diabetes, regular visits to your ophthalmologist are critical to maintaining your vision. That’s because people with diabetes are more susceptible to eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in adults under the age of 65.
Very often, a patient with diabetic retinopathy will experience no symptoms at first – which is why frequent eye exams are recommended, to identify the earliest signs of something amiss when it comes to your eyes and vision. Anyone with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes is at risk.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Poorly controlled diabetes can harm the body in a number of ways, including impaired circulation and damaged nerves, especially in the limbs. When diabetes affects the eyes, it can cause blood vessels in the retina (at the back of the eye) to swell and leak. In some cases, new but abnormal blood vessels form in the area and tend to leak. Ultimately, permanent vision loss and blindness can occur. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy, if left untreated, may progress in the following stages:
- Nonproliferative Retinopathy. This stage begins with the earliest signs of diabetic retinopathy: when blood vessels in the retina start to weaken. The condition may progress from mild to moderate to severe, as more blood vessels in the retina become blocked. If blood vessel damage causes fluid buildup and swelling at the center of the retina, this is called macular edema, which may begin to affect your vision, beginning with blurred vision.
- Proliferative Retinopathy. At this advanced stage, weak and abnormal blood vessels have developed in the retina. While these new blood vessels don’t cause symptoms, when blood leaks occur, you may notice floaters or hemorrhaging in the eye.
About half of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some level of diabetic retinopathy.
Proper Eye Care If You Have Diabetes
If you have diabetes, it is recommended that you have a comprehensive, dilated eye exam at least once a year. If you have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, you may need more frequent eye exams. The bottom line is, whether you have symptoms or not, early detection and timely treatment by a qualified ophthalmologist can help prevent vision loss and blindness.
Women with gestational diabetes should consult their ophthalmologist for a comprehensive, dilated eye exam as soon as possible. Your doctor may also recommend additional eye exams during your pregnancy to protect your vision.
Treating Diabetic Eye Disorders
Getting your diabetes under control is one of the most important things you can do to stop the progression of eye disorders due to diabetes. Regular visits to your eye doctor are mandatory to monitor your condition and undergo specialized testing and treatment. Besides, the earlier you receive treatment for diabetic retinopathy – or any other eye disorder, for that matter – the more likely it is to be effective.
Injectable Medications
If you have diabetic macular edema, your doctor may recommend certain medications to stop the growth of new blood vessels in the eye and reduce the buildup of fluid in the retina. These medications are administered by injection into the eye, after the application of topical anesthesia.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatments are used to shrink abnormal blood vessels in the eye, as well as stop blood vessel leakage and fluid buildup in the retina. Multiple treatments are often necessary to achieve the desired results.
Eye Surgery
If the bleeding in your eye is severe, your ophthalmologist may recommend a vitrectomy, in which excess blood and scar tissue are surgically removed from the eye.
Comprehensive Diabetic Eye Care in East Orange, NJ
At Scott Eye Care, Dr. Winston Scott and Dr. Jessica Scott understand how important it is that people with diabetes get the comprehensive and personalized eye care they need to preserve their vision.
For diabetic eye care you can count on, turn to the father-daughter ophthalmology team in East Orange, New Jersey. Call the Scott Eye Care office at (973) 674-1070 to schedule your visit. Or you can use our convenient appointment request form if you prefer.
