Diabetes and the Eye

Over 30 million Americans have diabetes. Just as diabetes can affect other organs in your body, it can also affect the eye by damaging the blood vessels in the eye. The first stage of this is called non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and can be seen as little bleeders during the eye exam. If these vessels become leaky it can cause fluid to build up in the central part of your vision leading to a decline in your vision. This is called macular edema, and sometimes requires additional treatment. As the diabetic retinopathy progresses, the damaged vessels no longer supply enough oxygen to your retina, so new vessels will start to grow. This is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. While new vessels sound like a good thing, the new vessels can actually be worse as these vessels can sometimes tug on the retina causing retinal detachments or the vessels can easily break causing large amounts of blood in the eye. While some of these issues can be treated, it is important to catch the problems before they start for the best outcome. That is why it is very important for every diabetic, both Type 1 and Type 2, get an annual dilated eye exam.

Diabetic retinopathy can often present without any symptoms, and that is why an annual eye exam is recommended. Sometimes it manifests as blurry vision, sudden drop in vision, flashes or floaters. If you are a diabetic and have these symptoms, you should get an eye exam right away.

There are a number of ways diabetic retinopathy can be treated. Earlier stages may simply require more frequent monitoring. Later stages may involve lasers, intraocular injections or surgery. Your doctor can complete a thorough exam and discuss the best plan for you.