Navigating Diabetes in Maryland
Diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, can significantly impact eye health. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can damage the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Damage to the retina's blood vessels, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, causes diabetic retinopathy. Over time, it can develop into more severe sight-threatening conditions like proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema.
Causes and Risk Factors
The primary cause of diabetic retinopathy is poorly controlled diabetes. Risk factors include the duration of diabetes, poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use.
Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms
In its early stages, it may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, as the condition advances, symptoms can include:
- Blurred vision
- Spots or dark strings floating in vision (floaters)
- Fluctuating vision
- Impaired color vision
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Vision loss or blindness
Preventing diabetic retinopathy involves managing diabetes through diet, exercise, and medication. Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection.
Comprehensive Diabetic Care at Washington Eye Institute
Our specialists are adept in diagnosing and treating diabetic eye conditions. They conduct thorough eye exams and work closely with you to manage diabetes-related eye issues.
While there's no cure for diabetic retinopathy, early detection and treatment can significantly slow its progression. Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease and may include:
- Medications: Injections into the eye to slow or stop the growth of new blood vessels.
- Laser Treatment: To seal leaking blood vessels or to discourage new abnormal blood vessels from forming.
- Vitrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove blood from the middle of the eye (vitreous) and any scar tissue tugging on the retina.
At Washington Eye Institute, our mission extends beyond treating eye diseases; we aim to improve our patients' overall health and well-being.
If you're living with diabetes and are concerned about your eye health, we invite you to visit us for a complete evaluation. Together, we can work towards preserving your vision and managing the ocular impacts of diabetes.
