Diabetes and Eye Health

Diabetes and Eye Health

People who suffer from diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, are at an increased risk for several types of eye complications.  In fact, diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S.  If you have diabetes, it is essential that you maintain a routine eye exam schedule with your ophthalmologist, in order to monitor your overall eye health.  Early detection could mean the difference in a minor problem and major vision loss.

Although people with diabetes are at a higher risk for eye disease, it’s important to note that not everyone with diabetes will develop an eye disorder, and for those that do, the condition is usually minor and can be treated or maintained easily.

There are three types of eye conditions that people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing:  Glaucoma, Cataracts and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetes and Glaucoma

The exact relationship between diabetes and glaucoma has puzzled doctors for years, but the fact remains: diabetes sufferers are twice as likely to develop glaucoma than people without.  The likelihood increases even further the longer that person has had diabetes.

Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up in the eye and/or blood supply to the optic nerve is reduced damaging the optic nerve as a result.  They call glaucoma the ‘silent thief’ because vision loss is so gradual, that symptoms are hardly noticeable.  In many cases, a person has been suffering from the onset of glaucoma for years without knowing it.  That’s why routine eye exams are so important, especially for diabetes sufferers.  Only a thorough eye exam from a board certified ophthalmologist can accurately diagnose glaucoma.  Although there is no permanent cure for glaucoma, early detection is key to developing a treatment plan that can control the pressure in your eye and save any permanent vision loss down the road.

Learn more about glaucoma detection and treatment options.

Diabetes and Cataracts

A cataract is diagnosed when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and impairs light rays from passing through.  The result is blurry or hazy vision.  Cataracts are also an unfortunate part of the aging process.   The lens of our eye is made up of protein and water, and over time will naturally begin to opacify and become cloudy.

Although cataracts will eventually affect everyone should you live long enough, those with diabetes are more than 60% likely to develop the condition, and at a much younger age than normal. The speed of vision loss due to cataracts is also faster in those patients with diabetes.  The good news is that cataracts are easily treatable, with several common visual aids improving vision until the lens becomes too cloudy, and cataract surgery is needed.  Cataract surgery is a popular, safe and effective permanent correction option, with over 95% of patients enjoying clear vision after surgery. 

Learn more about cataracts and cataract surgery, including premium lenses that could give you clear vision without glasses after the procedure.

Diabetic Retinopathy

The most common eye disease associated with diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy.  This condition exists when abnormally high blood-sugar levels cause the tiny blood vessels in the retina to become damaged.  The retina is located on the back portion of the eye, and plays an essential part in one’s vision.  When the blood vessels of the retina become damaged, they can bleed, they can leak, and/or become constricted.  This can damage the surface of the retina, which in turn can lead to severe vision loss or even blindness.

The term diabetic retinopathy is actually a general term referring to several types of retinal disorders brought on by diabetes.

The two most common types of diabetic retinopathy are:

Nonproliferative retinopathy

Nonproliferative retinopathy is the most common type of retinopathy.  This condition exists when high blood sugar levels cause the tiny capillaries to become clogged and expand.  This expansion forms pouches out of the blood vessels, and weaken the walls of the capillaries.  Vision loss isn’t common at this point, but the weakening of the vessel walls can cause fluid to pass through the walls into the retina.  If this fluid reaches the part of the retina where focusing happens, called the macula, then vision loss can occur.  Called macular edema, a person’s vision will become blurry and vision loss will occur without treatment.
Nonproliferative retinopathy doesn’t always require treatment. But when the condition progresses to the stage of macula edema, then treatment is essential. The good news is that there are several safe and effective treatment options that can stop and even reverse any potential vision loss.

Proliferative retinopathy

Proliferative retinopathy occurs when the eye is starved of oxygen from diabetes to the point where bad abnormal blood vessels form in the retina. The problem is that these new blood vessels are very weak, and are susceptible to hemorrhaging into the eye causing anything from severe floaters in the eye to total blindness from scarring and retinal detachment. This one of the most feared complications of diabetes.

With both types of retinopathy, symptoms are not always present. However the disease is treatable, and easily detectable through general eye exams by a board certified Ophthalmologist. That is why it is important that anyone with diabetes maintains a routine exam schedule to ensure lasting eye health.

Am I at risk for retinopathy?

Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are at some risk.  The risk for developing the disease increases the higher your blood sugar levels are, as well as time with the disease.  Most people with diabetes do not develop any form of retinopathy for at least ten years, but any individual with diabetes should hold fast to a yearly eye exam schedule starting the moment they are diagnosed. 
Even if you do have diabetes, there are several things you can do to decrease your risk of ever developing the disease, such as:

• Controlling your blood sugar levels
• Monitoring your blood pressure
• Eating healthy
• Exercising
• Stop Smoking

These are common healthy behaviors that we all should engage in, but they become even more important when you consider the effect it could have on your vision and your overall health.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

If detected early, treatment for retinopathy is extremely successful at stopping and reversing any potential vision loss.  But the key once again is early detection. The sooner retinopathy is diagnosed; the more likely treatment will succeed.

Diabetic retinopathy is most commonly treated with laser photocoagulation. These procedures, involving a laser beam to seal off leaking blood vessels or removing new vessels that have grown in the retina. The procedure is simple and painless.

A procedure called a vitrectomy may be performed if retinopathy has progressed to the point where blood has leaked into the eye and does not resolve itself with lasers.  This procedure manually removes the blood from the eye. The procedure is very successful at restoring vision when only blood removal is needed.

Can I prevent diabetic eye problems?

The most obvious prevention to any diabetic eye disease is to lead a healthy lifestyle that could prevent the development of diabetes.  That means not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly.

If you do have diabetes, then maintaining strict control of blood sugar and blood pressure levels through diet, exercise and medication is the surest way to decrease the risk associated with developing any diabetes related eye conditions.

Finally, maintaining, at a minimum, yearly eye exams with a Board Certified Ophthalmologist with the training, experience, and equipment necessary to successfully diagnose and treat diabetic eye problems is extremely important. The Eye associates of Brazos Valley have treated and saved vision in thousands of diabetics. If you should develop any diabetic eye disease, it should be detected at its earliest stage and treatment should begin immediately to ensure your good vision stays excellent for life. 

If you have diabetes and have not received an eye exam in the last year, schedule one today with the Eye Associates of Brazos Valley.  We are experts at monitoring and treating of all diabetic eye conditions, and will provide you with the care you need to make certain you keep your vision good.