Diabetic Eye Care

The function of the retina is to receive light, translate it into nerve signals, and send those signals to the brain. Without a retina, there is no sight. Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing a condition called retinopathy. There are no symptoms at first, but the damaged blood vessels can gradually leak fluid and lipids onto the macula, the part of the eye that lets us see in detail. This is referred to as macular edema. If allowed to progress untreated, this leakage can destroy the retina, leading to loss of vision.

Both Type I (juvenile onset) and Type II (adult onset) diabetics are at high risk of developing retinopathy, but if caught in time, the disease is treatable, and vision loss can be prevented. Signs of retinopathy can be detected during a routine eye examination. For diabetics, the eye exam will include special emphasis on tests that look specifically at retina function. Pregnant women with diabetes also may be at risk and should undergo eye exams each trimester as a precaution.

Diabetic retinopathy can be treated – although not cured – with one of several types of laser surgery or an operation called a vitrectomy. The latter involves removing the cloudy vitreous fluid and replacing it with a salt solution. This procedure is reserved for more advanced and severe forms of retinopathy.

If you are a diabetic, having your eyes examined at least once a year through dilated pupils, controlling your blood sugar levels and blood pressure are the best ways to lessen the danger of advanced retinopathy.