Uncontrolled diabetes is one of the leading causes of other health complications on the skin, eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart. Properly managing your diabetes can significantly reduce your chances of developing diabetic eye disease. The effects of diabetic eye disease can be devastating; fortunately, with the proper treatment and medical care from the diabetic eye disease San Antonio clinic, you can reduce your risk of blindness. Here is everything you need to know about diabetic eye disease and the top 5 best treatment methods that can treat it.
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetes eye disease is also medically known as diabetic retinopathy. It is a severe eye condition caused by uncontrolled diabetes and can lead to total blindness if left untreated. Diabetes retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in the retina get damaged.
These blood vessels might leak or swell, causing blurry vision or poor blood flow to the eyes. Diabetes eye disease often affects both eyes and might not show symptoms during its early stages.
Diabetes eye disease symptoms
During its early stages, diabetes eye disease might not be noticeable; however, you might begin forming tiny pouches that your doctor can see. After the disease has progressed to the advanced stage, you might develop some noticeable symptoms, as highlighted below.
- Blurry vision
- Spots in your vision
- Trouble seeing colors
- Fluctuating vision
- Floating strings in your vision
- Vision loss
If you have diabetes, it is highly advisable to regularly visit a hospital for routine check-ups to monitor your sugar levels. Also, regular check-ups can help detect and diagnose diabetic eye disease early.
Risk factors for diabetic eye disease
Anyone who has diabetes is usually at risk of developing diabetic eye disease. However, some factors can significantly increase your risk of developing eye disease. These factors include;
- Increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Race ethnicity
- Having diabetes for long periods
- Pregnancy
Untreated diabetes eye disease can lead to additional eye complications such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, blood vessel hemorrhage and blindness.
How is diabetic eye disease diagnosed?
Your doctor may first begin checking your medical history and symptoms during your first visit. Later, your doctor may conduct a comprehensive vision testing or eye exam to detect changes in your eyes. These vision tests include; measuring fluid eye pressure, looking for signs of cataracts, and evaluating your blood vessels using other imaging procedures.
What are the common diabetes eye treatment options?
Treating diabetes eye disease can prevent more damage to the eye and reduce the possibility of future blindness. Here are some effective treatment methods for diabetic retinopathy.
- Laser therapy: This treatment option involves emitting laser energy into the eyes to create a barrier to scar tissue to slow down and shrink the growth of blood vessels
- Eye injections: Eye injections and medications such as corticosteroids can also effectively treat diabetes retinopathy by blocking the growth of new blood vessels.
- Surgery: Diabetes eye disease can be treated through a surgical procedure known as vitrectomy, which involves removing scar tissue in your retina to prevent diabetes eye disease from progressing.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as exercising regularly, not smoking, eating healthily and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly lower your high blood sugar levels.
- Administering anti-VEGF medicines: These medications usually slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes, particularly the retina, to prevent diabetic retinopathy from developing.
Contact Alamo Eye Care
If you have diabetes and are experiencing vision problems or distortions, do not overlook it; visit Alamo Eye Care, where you will acquire comprehensive eye treatment care from professional and certified optometrists. Call today or book an online appointment and begin a diabetic eye exam.