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 Diabetes and Eye Health
What is Diabetic Eye Disease? Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that may result as a complication from diabetes. Each problem can cause severe vision loss or even blindness and may include:
The most common diabetic eye disease is Diabetic retinopathy. It is a leading cause of blindness in American adults and is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Some people with diabetic retinopathy may experience swelling of the retinal blood vessels that leak fluid. Others experience a growth of abnormal new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness. People with diabetes are also at risk for other diabetic eye diseases. For instance, cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Fortunately, cataracts can usually be treated by surgery. Another problem is glaucoma. People with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to develop glaucoma as other adults; the longer you have had diabetes, the greater your risk of developing glaucoma. If you do get glaucoma, it may be able to be treated with medications, laser, or other types of surgery. Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease In the early stages of diabetes, there are often no symptoms; vision may not change and there may not be any pain until the disease becomes severe. People may experience blurred vision when the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision) swells from the leaking fluid; this condition is called macular edema. If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking vision. It is important to keep in mind that the disease may progress a long way without symptoms – even in advanced cases. That is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important. Detecting and Treating Diabetic Eye Disease Anyone with diabetes is most likely to get diabetic retinopathy; in fact, the longer you have had diabetes, the more likely you will develop diabetic retinopathy. It is estimated that between 40-45 percent of people diagnosed with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, people with diabetes should have their eyes examined at least once a year where the eyes are dilated to allow for checking for signs of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated. It is often treated with laser surgery; having surgery with appropriate follow-up care can reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent. However, laser surgery typically cannot restore vision that has already been lost. This is why early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best way to prevent vision loss. Protecting Your Vision Although diabetic retinopathy cannot be totally prevented, your risk can be greatly reduced. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better control of blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy. The study found that those that tried to keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible also had much less kidney and nerve disease. The best thing you can do to control diabetic eye disease is to find and treat the disease early, before it causes vision loss or blindness. Therefore, if you have diabetes, make sure you get a dilated eye examination at least once a year. Important Points to Remember:
Click here to take a quiz to see how much you know about diabetic eye disease Source: National Eye Institute More:
Diabetic Eye Disease Resources:
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