Diabetes and Your Eyes

If you are a diabetic patient you are most likely aware of many dangers related to your health but have you discussed the implications of this disease with an eye care professional. The doctors at IC Laser have extensive training for diagnosing and treating patients that may suffer from degenerative symptoms related to diabetes. We suggest regular eye examinations to determine actual health of your eye. We hope to detect any early developments of diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, or even macular degeneration in order to ensure quick and effective treatment. Keeping blood sugars relatively normal is the best known way to keep your eyes healthy and safe from the possible dangers of retinal problems.

Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes today. Many of these patients living with diabetes are unaware that diabetes may affect their eyes and can lead to sudden loss of vision or permanent blindness. Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of preventable blindness in our country.

Patients with any form of diabetes are at risk, including Type 1 insulin dependent diabetics, Type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetics and Type 2 insulin requiring diabetics.

Many patients with early stages of diabetic eye disease do not have any visual symptoms. The early and most treatable forms of diabetic retinopathy can only be discovered during a complete eye exam.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a possible vision-threatening condition in which the blood vessels in the retina (the area of light-sensitive cells that line the back of the eye) become damaged. These damaged vessels can then leak, causing swelling or hemorrhaging in the retina. In more advanced cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These can cause large hemorrhages in the eye and/or retinal detachment. The longer you have diabetes, the greater your chance of developing diabetic retinopathy. More than one-third of those diagnosed with diabetes don't get the recommended vision care. This is why our doctors urge you to consult a professional ophthalmologist for routine eye exams to manage any potential issues.