Diabetic Eye Disease

What is diabetic eye disease?

Diabetic eye disease is a condition that may result from uncontrolled diabetes, a common chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to control the sugar in your blood. When left untreated, diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes and affect your vision.

The good news is that about 90% of diabetes-related vision loss is preventable with early detection and treatment. However, about 60% of people with diabetes don’t attend routine eye exams as directed by their doctors.

What are the common diabetic eye diseases?

The common eye diseases you’re at risk for if you have uncontrolled diabetes include:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic macular edema
• Diabetic retinopathy 

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in your eyes swell, close off, or leak. If you have diabetic macular edema, fluid builds up in your retinas and causes them to swell. That, in turn, can lead to blurry vision or vision loss.

Cataracts cause cloudy lenses in your eyes and poor vision. Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve, causing irreversible vision loss.

What are the symptoms of diabetic eye disease?

The symptoms you may encounter because of diabetic eye disease include:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Cloudy vision
• Patchy blind spots
• Eye pain
• Tunnel vision
• Other vision changes

The earlier your provider detects and treats diabetic eye disease, the better your outcome and the lower your chance of vision loss. At the first sign of a problem, see the Eye Tech Optometric Center specialists for an evaluation. 

How does my provider diagnose diabetic eye disease?

To find out if you have a diabetic eye disease, your Eye Tech Optometric Center provider reviews your eye health history, lifestyle habits, and symptoms. They check your vision during vision screening and complete a comprehensive eye exam. 

Your optometrist might also complete retinal imaging and dilate your pupils to get an in-depth view of your entire eye. They then develop an effective treatment that best matches your needs.

What are the treatments for diabetic eye disease?

Your personalized diabetic treatment plan depends on the type of eye disease you have and how severe it is. You might take medications, use eye drops, adopt healthy habits, wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, or undergo eye surgery. Your Eye Tech Optometric Center provider refers you to a specialist in the case of a complex problem.

You should also properly manage your diabetes by taking diabetes medicines, using insulin injections, eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, losing weight if you’re overweight, and monitoring your blood sugar regularly.

How often do I need diabetic eye exams?

If you have diabetes, your Eye Tech Optometric Center provider lets you know when to schedule your next eye exam. You may need one every year or two to ensure you maintain healthy eyes and good vision. 

To find out if you have diabetic eye disease or to schedule a routine diabetic eye exam, call the Eye Tech Optometric Center office or use the online scheduler today.