DIABETIC EYE DISEASE

Diabetes is rampant in the Western world. As diabetes has become more common, so have eye conditions associated with diabetes. The most serious of these conditions is diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is considered to be the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults, ages 20 to 74 years old. Diabetes can also lead to the development of cataracts and glaucoma.

Massengale Eye Care offers comprehensive care for diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes-related eye disorders. Early detection is critical, as is early intervention in cases requiring treatment. Ongoing monitoring is the best defense against diabetes-related vision loss.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, occurs when abnormal blood sugar levels, brought on by diabetes, damage the blood vessels of the retina. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. In other cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. If left untreated, this damage can lead to permanent vision loss and eventually blindness.

Unfortunately, diabetic retinopathy has no early warning signs. The best way to protect yourself is to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year or as directed by Dr. Massengale. In a comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Massengale can detect this condition in its earliest stages before it affects your vision. Early intervention can protect you from vision loss.

Who is at risk?

If you have diabetes you are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes comes in two main forms: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes typically strikes early in life and is characterized by an inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, the hormone that enables sugar and other nutrients to leave the bloodstream and enter cells for energy and growth. Although Type 2 diabetes generally occurs later in life, more and more cases of it showing up in young people is due to the ubiquity of poor diet. The cells of the body become resistant to insulin and its effects.

Both disorders lead to high levels of sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia) which chronically damages blood vessels, rendering them leaky. If left untreated, this leads to serious long-term consequences throughout the body, including the eyes.

If you have diabetes, there are several other risk factors, some of which can be managed, that influence the development and severity of diabetic retinopathy including:

  • Elevated Blood sugar - This is a key risk factor that you can control. If you carefully manage your blood sugar levels, you can delay the onset and slow the progression of diabetic eye disease. The most important way to control blood sugar, is with a restrictive diet, meaning low or no sugar and grains.

  • Blood pressure - High blood pressure can damage blood vessels and increase the chances of diabetic retinopathy.

  • High blood lipid levels - Elevated blood lipids, including cholesterol and triglyceride levels, can lead to a greater accumulation of protein deposits that leak into the retina.

  • Ethnicity - Although anyone with diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy, certain groups are at high risk for retinopathy because they are at greater risk for diabetes. These include African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

You can have diabetic retinopathy and not be aware of it, since the early stages of the disease don’t cause noticeable symptoms. That is why it is so important to have comprehensive dilated eye exams annually if you have diabetes.  In a dilated comprehensive eye exam, Dr. Massengale can detect the earliest changes that occur with diabetic retinopathy including:

  • Leaking blood vessels

  • Retinal swelling (macular edema)

  • Fatty deposits in the retina

  • Damaged nerve tissue

  • Microaneurysms (small, balloon-like abnormalities of blood vessels)

As the disease progresses, you may notice any of the following diabetic retinopathy symptoms:

  • Spots, dots, or cobweb-like dark strings floating in your vision

  • Blurred vision

  • Vision changes periodically from blurry to clear

  • Blank or dark areas in your field of vision

  • Poor night vision

  • Colors appear washed out or different

  • Vision loss

Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. Contact our office right away if you experience sudden vision changes or your vision becomes blurry, spotty, or hazy.​

Treatment

Laser, medical and surgical treatments don’t cure diabetic retinopathy, but they may slow or prevent the progression of vision loss. Without treatment, diabetic retinopathy progresses steadily from minimal to severe stages.

Our team is committed to ensuring that our diabetic patients experience the highest quality of life for many years to come. We want our patients to understand that in its earliest stages, the best treatment for diabetic retinopathy is to manage your diabetes. Be sure you are controlling diabetes in the following ways:

  • The strict control of your blood sugar will significantly reduce the long-term risk of vision loss.

  • Keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels within normal ranges.​​

  • Stop smoking - Smoking increases your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

  • Eat a healthy, low glycemic diet and exercise regularly. Weight loss is a primary therapy for treating and preventing type 2 diabetes. ​