Diabetes is common, affecting millions of individuals today. One of the effects of diabetes on your health is vision loss. Diabetes is a crucial cause of blindness in the world. Usually, diabetes eye disease occurs when you have poor diabetic care. However, with proper diabetes management, diabetic eye disease is preventable. The diabetic eye disease San Antonio specialist at Alamo Eye Care offers exceptional care to treat diabetic eye disease and lower your risk of blindness. Keep reading as we look into details about diabetic eye disease.
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease or retinopathy occurs when you have uncontrolled diabetes. The condition develops when the eye blood vessels get damaged. When not treated, diabetic eye disease may lead to blindness.
What symptoms does diabetic eye disease cause?
Diabetic eye disease causes various symptoms such as blurry vision, impaired color vision, fluctuating vision, spots in your vision, floating string in your vision, and vision loss.
The disease affects both eyes. Usually, it does not show any warning signs until in the later stages. Routine eye check-ups are therefore essential, especially when you have diabetes.
What factors might increase your risk for diabetic eye disease?
If you have diabetes, you are likely to have diabetic eye disease. However, some factors might elevate your risk for the disease, such as poor blood sugar control, pregnancy, high cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking. Having diabetes for an extended period or being a native American or an African American may also lead to diabetic eye disease.
Without treatment, diabetic retinopathy may lead to complications such as glaucoma, blood vessel hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and blindness.
How does the diagnosis of diabetic eye disease happen?
During your visit to Alamo Eye Care, your provider reviews your medical history and discusses your symptoms. They also perform an eye exam and vision testing.
Your provider uses eye drops to dilate your pupils, get a better visual of your eyes, check signs of cataracts and measure your fluid eye pressure. They also administer a special dye into your arm vein to assess the blood vessels or use other imaging tests for a detailed picture of your eye health.
What are your treatment options for diabetic eye disease?
Your provider at Alamo Eye Care recommends the following to treat diabetic eye disease.
Lifestyle changes
Your lifestyle affects various parts of your health. Healthy habits such as regular exercise, healthy eating, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight may help control your blood sugar. Taking your diabetes medications as instructed and checking your blood sugar regularly can also be helpful.
Laser treatment
Your provider uses laser energy to slow down fluid and blood leaks in your eyes, narrow the damaged blood vessels, and prevent further eye damage.
Injections
Injections into your eye block new blood vessel growth.
Surgery
Your provider may suggest surgery to extract blood from your eye and scar tissue near the retina. Surgery prevents diabetic eye disease from progressing.
With proper diabetic care, you can live a healthy life and reduce your risk of issues related to diabetes, including diabetic eye disease.
Contact Alamo Eye Care today to schedule your consultation.
