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Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is made up of eye problems that are common to those who have diabetes. It is a complication of the disease and they can be very serious. Some of these conditions will cause blindness or at a minimum, loss of vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of eye disease that diabetic patients face. It is caused by the blood vessels in the retina which change with diabetes. These changes can cause damage and swelling. With diabetic retinopathy, unhealthy blood vessels can grow over the retina and result in vision loss. The problem may develop over time and many patients who suffer from this condition are unaware that anything is wrong with their vision until there is damage.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include laser surgery which will reduce the number of blood vessels that are affecting the retina. This treatment is called scatter laser treatment and it may require more than one treatment before vision is affected.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can be affected by this condition. Doctors recommend a regular dilated eye exam every year to detect the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. It is estimated that forty percent of patients with diabetes will have some form of diabetic retinopathy.

Cataracts are another condition that is more likely with diabetes than without. It is estimated that a diabetic patient is sixty percent more likely to develop cataracts than someone who does not. Patients can successfully manage mild cataracts by using care when in the sunlight. Worse cases may require the removal of the lens. Patients can also receive a replacement lens to prevent the condition, glaucoma, from developing.

Glaucoma is another eye disease that diabetic patients face. Patients with diabetes are forty percent more likely to develop glaucoma than non diabetic patients. Glaucoma is a condition that develops from pressure behind the eyes. The pressure causes the retina and nerves to become damaged and vision is lost over time.

Treatments for glaucoma can include medications that will reduce the pressure behind the eyes or surgery to relieve the pressure. 

Treating diabetes can have a positive effect on the likelihood of developing one of these eye conditions. Following a diabetic diet and monitoring blood sugar is the most important part of preventing these conditions from occurring. Because there is a greater incidence of these eye conditions in diabetic patients, it is even more important that regular eye checkups and screenings be conducted to detect the signs and symptoms of diabetic eye disease before there is a vision loss.

Diabetic patients most often only develop minor eye complications due to their diabetes. The patient can do a great deal to make sure that eye problems are kept to a minimum by using prescribed medications for diabetes and sticking to a diabetic diet. All of the complications that are the result of diabetes can be successfully managed by managing diabetes. If you experience any eye problems and have diabetes, visit your eye doctor and the doctor that manages your diabetes to get started on a treatment that will eliminate the progression of the eye disease.

Resource Article

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is made up of eye problems that are common to those who have diabetes. It is a complication of the disease and they can be very serious. Some of these conditions will cause blindness or at a minimum, loss of vision.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common type of eye disease that diabetic patients face. It is caused by the blood vessels in the retina which change with diabetes. These changes can cause damage and swelling. With diabetic retinopathy, unhealthy blood vessels can grow over the retina and result in vision loss. The problem may develop over time and many patients who suffer from this condition are unaware that anything is wrong with their vision until there is damage.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include laser surgery which will reduce the number of blood vessels that are affecting the retina. This treatment is called scatter laser treatment and it may require more than one treatment before vision is affected.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics can be affected by this condition. Doctors recommend a regular dilated eye exam every year to detect the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. It is estimated that forty percent of patients with diabetes will have some form of diabetic retinopathy.

Cataracts are another condition that is more likely with diabetes than without. It is estimated that a diabetic patient is sixty percent more likely to develop cataracts than someone who does not. Patients can successfully manage mild cataracts by using care when in the sunlight. Worse cases may require the removal of the lens. Patients can also receive a replacement lens to prevent the condition, glaucoma, from developing.

Glaucoma is another eye disease that diabetic patients face. Patients with diabetes are forty percent more likely to develop glaucoma than non diabetic patients. Glaucoma is a condition that develops from pressure behind the eyes. The pressure causes the retina and nerves to become damaged and vision is lost over time.

Treatments for glaucoma can include medications that will reduce the pressure behind the eyes or surgery to relieve the pressure. 

Treating diabetes can have a positive effect on the likelihood of developing one of these eye conditions. Following a diabetic diet and monitoring blood sugar is the most important part of preventing these conditions from occurring. Because there is a greater incidence of these eye conditions in diabetic patients, it is even more important that regular eye checkups and screenings be conducted to detect the signs and symptoms of diabetic eye disease before there is a vision loss.

Diabetic patients most often only develop minor eye complications due to their diabetes. The patient can do a great deal to make sure that eye problems are kept to a minimum by using prescribed medications for diabetes and sticking to a diabetic diet. All of the complications that are the result of diabetes can be successfully managed by managing diabetes. If you experience any eye problems and have diabetes, visit your eye doctor and the doctor that manages your diabetes to get started on a treatment that will eliminate the progression of the eye disease.