Diabetes increases your risk of developing an eye condition. Diabetic eye disease refers to the group of eye conditions you’re most at risk of developing. Trang Dao, OD, and her team of optometrists at InFocus Vision, with offices in Fort Worth and Cedar Hill, Texas, provide eye care and management for people with diabetes to help protect eye health and reduce the risk of vision changes. Call today or schedule an appointment using the online booking button.
Diabetic Eye Disease Q & A
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye conditions that affect people with diabetes. The most common include:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic macular edema (DME)
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
All of these eye conditions can affect your vision and may lead to blindness. The optometrists at InFocus Vision take extra special care of people with diabetes due to their increased risk of vision loss. However, getting your blood sugar under control through medication, diet, and exercise may significantly reduce your risk of these eye conditions.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Blood sugar levels that are consistently high can damage the tiny blood vessels found in your eyes, causing them to leak fluid or hemorrhage, This can not only affect how the retina detects light but also lead to vision changes. If left untreated, the number of abnormal blood vessels increase, potentially leading to retinal scarring.
Diabetic retinopathy can develop without causing any noticeable symptoms until vision changes occur. Your optometrist at InFocus Vision can monitor changes to your eye during your comprehensive eye exam and provide recommendations to help slow down or prevent further damage.
What is DME?
Diabetic macular edema is a condition that results from diabetic retinopathy and causes a buildup of fluid in the macula. The extra fluid can affect the sharpness of your vision and make it difficult for you to read or drive.
Your optometrist may be able to treat DME using various injections, such as:
- Anti-VEGF injection therapy: to slow down the growth of abnormal blood vessels
- Corticosteroids: to suppress leaking
Focal/grid macular laser therapy is also an option. This treatment uses laser energy to destroy the blood vessels and prevent further leaking and edema.
