Diabetic Eye Exam

Diabetes is a type of disease that has an impact on many areas of a person’s body. Specifically your eyes by raising your chances of developing eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma. The core concern for people with diabetes is the risk of getting diabetic retinopathy. 

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where the blood vessels in your retina become damaged. The retina is a light-sensitive part in the back of your eye. As the damage develops over time, you will begin to lose your sight This can ultimately lead to complete blindness. 

Diabetes Type 1 or Type 2 patients are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy. Managing and learning how to control diabetes is important for such patients. 

The condition might not have any symptoms in its early stages or could be mild to non-noticeable. As it worsens, your symptoms will worsen. Schedule with an optometrist immediately if any of the following symptoms occur: 

• Dots, floaters or dark strings in your vision
• Empty or dark areas in your vision
• Blurry vision
• Difficulty in focusing your eyes
• Eyesight changes that seem to fluctuate
• Changed color vision
• Partial or total vision loss

Usually, diabetic retinopathy starts to develop in both eyes, at the same time with equal symptoms. If you are experiencing a single symptom or multiple symptoms in only one eye, it doesn’t mean you are free from diabetic retinopathy. It could be an indication of another health issue. Make an appointment with your optometrist to get started with treatment. 
 

The buildup of additional sugar in your blood can lead to multiple health issues. Excessive glucose damages the tiny vessels supplying blood to your retina. With time, the damage leads to blockage in blood flow. 

Chronic damage to the blood vessels of the retina causes changes in your vision. When the blood flow to your eye is limited, the eye tries to fix the problem and starts growing new blood vessels. The growth of new blood vessels is known as neovascularization. The new vessels created do not have the strength of the old vessels. This results in leaks or ruptures causing negative impacts to your vision.

Treatment aims to slow or stop the development of diabetic retinopathy. Treatment truly varies on multiple things such as the severity of your retinopathy and how well you are currently maintaining your diabetes. 

One form of treatment is focal laser treatment. If the diabetic retinopathy has advanced, you will be recommended to do focal laser treatment. The treatment will slow or stop the rupture or leakage from your vessels by burning the anomalous blood vessels. This treatment is likely to stop further symptoms and might even reverse the effects of the diabetic retinopathy. 

Your chances of developing diabetic retinopathy is higher if your diabetes isn’t under control. Strict precautions and glycemic control is important and effective to control the chance of developing diabetic retinopathy. Early detection of diabetes and working in collaboration with your doctor's recommendation is very important. 

Having multiple medical conditions or diseases increases the risk of developing retinopathy. These medical conditions could be things such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol.

A diabetic woman when  pregnant has a higher chance of developing diabetic retinopathy than someone who is not pregnant and is also a diabetic. The doctor will recommend more frequent eye exams for pregnant women than patients who are not pregnant. 

Hispanics and African-Americans are at higher risk for developing diabetic retinopathy as compared to other ethnic groups and populations.

People who smoke and have diabetes have higher chances of developing diabetic retinopathy.

You may or may not be referred for treatment if your diabetic retinopathy isn’t causing any damage or isn’t severe. Annual eye exams are still recommended as it is the only way your doctor can monitor any changes. 

The longer you have been suffering from diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy and other overall health complications.

You should opt for a healthy lifestyle and check your blood sugar levels frequently to decrease the chances of severing your retinopathy.