Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

Posted by fortworth on November 2nd, 2014

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, chances are your doctor has cautioned you about the importance of getting your eyes checked on a regular basis. In addition to making sure your blood sugar is controlled as much as possible all the time, eye exams are among the most crucial steps you can take to preserve your health and quality of life.

The simple fact is diabetes is a tough disease to live with and manage. Even so, those who walk a careful line will find it is possible to hold off many of the potential complications or even avoid them entirely. When it comes to complications, loss of vision can be among the most devastating.

The reason why your doctor has counseled regular eye exams is to help ensure that diabetic retinopathy doesn’t develop. This is a rather common diabetic eye disease that can slowly, but surely, rob a person of their vision. When retinopathy is present, a number of changes can occur in the eyes. They include:

• Microaneurysms – This involves the blood vessels in the eye developing small bulges that can leak fluid.
• Hemorrhages – These are tiny spots of blood that leak into the eye.
• Hard exudates – Cholesterol deposits can leak into the retina.
• Macular edema – This is a swelling or thickening of the macula. It can cause vision loss that is mild to severe.
• Macular ischemia – When the blood vessels in the eyes close, this condition is present. It can blur the vision.

Like diabetes, diabetic retinopathy can often be managed and its symptoms treated to help prevent vision loss. If it develops, doctors will begin an aggressive plan that includes careful overall diabetes management to help preserve eyesight. They can’t, however, put a plan in motion if regular appointments aren’t made to track eye health.

If you have diabetes, make sure you go in for regular eye screenings. Doing so can save your vision and help preserve your quality of life.

About Author

The physicians at Ophthalmology Associates have offered eye care services in Fort Worth, HEB, Weatherford, and Granbury for over 40 years. For more information call us at (817) 332-2020 or Contact Us Online to request an appointment by simply filling out the on-line form.  It's a beautiful world; you deserve to see it well!