People who have diabetes are at an increased risk of developing vision issues. If you have diabetes, you should get your eyes regularly checked. Scheduling an appointment with an eye doctor at least once a year can help you catch early signs that your vision may be affected by your diabetes diagnosis. Learn more about how diabetes can affect your vision, what treatment options are out there, and where to receive treatment in Ohio.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Those with diabetes can be affected by a number of eye diseases, such as diabetes-diabetic macular edema, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. However, the most common cause of vision loss among those with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. So, what causes diabetic retinopathy? When your levels of blood sugar or blood pressure rise and stay high, it can cause damage to the blood vessels in your eye. Eventually, this will lead to vision problems/loss if left untreated.
Diabetic Retinopathy and Pregnancy
Women who have diabetes and become pregnant or develop diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes), are at high risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Have you recently become pregnant and have diabetes? You should get an eye screening as soon as possible. Catching it in its early stage can help prevent further damage to your eyes. Consult a doctor if you believe you are at risk.
Treatment Options for Diabetic Retinopathy
Your treatment options for diabetic retinopathy depend on the stage at which the disease is caught. Catching and treating diabetic retinopathy in its early stages can reduce your risk of blindness by 95 percent. Treatment options may include medicine combined with monitoring your eye health with exams or laser treatment. If diabetic retinopathy is caught early, your doctor will likely choose to monitor it before using laser treatment. However, if it is caught, later on, your doctor will likely advise you to get laser treatment.
Diabetic Retinopathy Laser Surgery
During your surgery to treat diabetic retinopathy, your doctor will numb your eyes with drops. Using the beam of light, your doctor will begin treating the leaky blood vessels in your eyes. This is not typically a one-off treatment and may require multiple visits. However, successful treatment combined with follow-up care can reduce your risk of blindness by 90%. If you have diabetes, get proactive about your eye health. Schedule an eye screening with the ophthalmologists at Cleveland Eye Clinic (CEC).
Having Blurry Vision From Diabetes? Consult a Vision Expert
Catching the early stages of diabetic eye disease can help you reduce your risk of losing your vision. If you have diabetes and haven’t booked a screening yet this year, reach out to the Cleveland Eye Clinic team. Our doctors are ready to help you understand how diabetes can affect your vision. Explore your treatment options by consulting with our staff.
