Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic Eye Disease - Vision problems are a common complication of diabetes that if not diagnosed and treated early can cause serious vision loss and even blindness. In the United States alone, diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness between the ages of 20 and 74. How can you prevent the serious conditions and complications of diabetic eye disease? The first step is education. You must know the conditions associated with vision loss, the causes and the treatments. You must know how to take care of  your eyes, much more if you have diabetes. Learning about diabetic eye disease is the first important step to take care of your vision.

The three major vision problems associated with diabetes are diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of blindness in diabetics. Almost all people who have had type 1 diabetes for a long period of time have some kind of diabetic retinopathy, and those who have type 2 diabetes will most likely develop some retinopathy over time.

Diabetic retinopathy has to do with the blood vessels in the retina and the way diabetes affects them. When these blood vessels are damaged, they might leak blood or fluid, causing vision loss and potentially leading to blindness if the right treatment is not performed in the early stages of the disease. There are various stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Non-proliferative Retinopathy

Non-proliferative retinopathy, also known as background retinopathy, is very common in people who have had diabetes for a long time and most likely will not damage vision. Background retinopathy occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the retina, which is made up of delicate tissue and specialized cells that convert light into images, leak blood or fluid. Although non-proliferative retinopathy won’t damage vision, it can bring along complications that will, known as macular edema and macular ischemia.

Macular Edema

The macula is a small area in the center of the retina that gives us sharp, detail vision. This area can swell up from the leakage of fluid and blood in the retina and cause central vision loss and some peripheral vision loss.

Macular Ischemia

Macular ischemia causes blurry vision as the blood vessels that feed the macula close and prevent the cells from getting a sufficient flow of blood.

If left untreated, non-proliferative retinopathy can lead to a more serious stage called proliferative retinopathy

Proliferative Retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that can potentially lead to blindness. It occurs when abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina, trying to replace those that have been already damaged. These new blood vessels are weak and bleed easily, also causing the formation of scar tissue in the eye. The scarring can pull the retina out of position, a condition known as retinal detachment. Retinal detachment can lead to severe loss of vision and even blindness without the adequate treatment.

Vitreous hemorrhage is another complication of proliferative retinopathy and it occurs when the vitreous, the clear substance that fills the inside of the eye is clouded from the leakage of the blood vessels in the retina. Vision can be significantly reduced with this condition.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

Unfortunately, there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Vision might not be affected until the disease has progressed to a severe state.  It is this reason why is extremely important to have your vision examined frequently even before any signs of vision loss. Early detection is the key to prevent blindness.

Have your eyes examined at least once a year. Your eye examination should include a visual acuity test, pupil dilation, and ophthalmoscopy and a tonometry.

Although diabetic retinopathy cannot be fully prevented, you can do a lot to greatly reduce the risk. Studies have shown that patients that kept their blood sugar levels under control significantly reduced damage to their eyes. Keeping a healthy diet, a healthy weight and not smoking are also key factors to keeping the risk of diabetic retinopathy at a minimum. Always consult with your doctor before making any diet or exercise changes.

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy treatment involves laser surgery, which can preserve your sight, but not improve it.  hat is another important reason why it is vital to detect retinopathy early. You might need more than one laser surgery to control the condition. Focal laser treatment is done to seal the leaking vessels and stabilize vision, while scatter laser treatment is performed to remove the new abnormal vessels that have grown and prevent them from causing further complications. You will loose some of your side vision after having scatter laser treatment.

Laser surgery is usually not painful but it can cause discomfort. Before the surgery the doctor will apply drops to numb the eye and most likely will also numb the area behind the eye to prevent discomfort.

A vitrectomy is a surgery used to treat vitreous hemorrhage. It involves removing the clouded vitreous and replacing it with a clear saline solution. Your vision might be slightly reduced after the surgery.

As you can see, diabetic retinopathy is a very serious condition that could do extensive damage to your vision. Remember the importance of early detection, control of your blood sugar levels and regular diet and exercise. If you do this, have your eyes examined regularly and follow your doctor’s directions, you will greatly reduce the risk of severe vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy.

Cataracts

Eye cataracts are another complication of diabetic eye disease. Eye cataracts usually develop as people get older, but they may develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes.  A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which is responsible for allowing you to see and focus on an image clearly. In a person with eye cataracts, their vision becomes blurred and glared, not allowing them to focus light properly.

Surgery is the most common treatment, which involves removal of the cloudy lens and replacing it with a plastic one.  Glasses or contact lenses might still be needed to correct vision after surgery.

Glaucoma and Diabetes

Glaucoma is another dangerous complication of diabetic eye disease that if not diagnosed and treated early can lead to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. Diabetics have twice the risk of getting glaucoma than other adults.

Glaucoma results from a build up of pressure inside the eye due to the fluid filling the eye not being drained properly. Early detection is important since there might not be any symptoms until the disease has progressed to a dangerous, advanced state. Make sure you get a glaucoma screening at least once a year. Glaucoma treatment could include eye drops, laser surgery or medicine.

Your vision is important, don’t let diabetes damage it. Make sure you do your part in preventing serious diabetic eye disease conditions that could do irreparable damage to your eyes. By educating yourself, having your eyes checked regularly and following your doctor’s directions you will be able to do just that.