Diabetic Eye Disease

If you are a diabetic patient please make sure to read carefully through our section regarding diabetes and the eye. Since diabetic eye disease may be developing even when your sight is good, regular eye exams are absolutely critical for finding problems early.

Many diabetic patients may notice signs of vision changes. If you’re having trouble reading, if your vision is blurry, or if you’re seeing flashes and floaters you may be experiencing problems related to diabetes. If you are a diabetic patient of our practice it is very important that you mention this to one of our eye doctors at The Delmar Surgical & Cosmetic Treatment Center.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

The most common cause of visual impairment in people with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which changes occur in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, small blood vessels weaken and leak fluid or tiny amounts of blood, which distort the retina slightly. The key is whether the disease progresses past this stage.

The chances of having some form of diabetic retinopathy increase the longer a person has had diabetes. Retinopathy is present in 90 percent of those who have had the disease for more than 20 years. Research has shown that severe visual loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented or delayed by laser treatment. This is of course true if the retinopathy is diagnosed early enough.

A diabetic can significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by using common sense and taking good care of him or herself:

• Keep blood sugar under good control.
• Monitor blood pressure and keep it under good control, or seek appropriate care.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• See an eye doctor for a dilated eye exam at least once a year.