Diabetic Eye Care

Ophthalmic Partners provides diabetic eye care treatment for patients in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the surrounding communities.

WHAT IS DIABETIC EYE DISEASE?

The most common diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. This is a disease of the retina in which blood vessels swell and leak. Soon they can no longer supply sufficient oxygen to the retina, and the body responds by creating new blood vessels that are abnormal and fragile. These begin to leak, causing loss of vision. In the early stages, symptoms are mild, but the disease can progress quickly into more severe stages of macular edema and complete vision loss.

HOW DOES DIABETES HARM THE EYE?

One of the main ways diabetes harms the eye is through a condition called diabetic retinopathy, but diabetes also increases risk factors for developing glaucoma, cataracts, and other issues. Everyone with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, has an increased risk of eye disease. Pregnant women may also experience vision problems caused by gestational diabetes.

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I NOTICE?

If you begin to experience any indicators of eye problems, see a doctor immediately. These could include the following symptoms:

• Blind spots or shadows
• Floating spots in your eyes
• Double vision
• Blurry vision and difficulty focusing
• Pain in the eyes
• Loss of peripheral (side) vision
• Unexplained headaches

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DIABETIC EYE CARE?

Because eye disease can be present among diabetics even when no symptoms are present, the most important preventative factor involved in diabetic eye care is a regular eye exam. If you have diabetes, a yearly exam (or more often in some cases) can identify potential risk factors and expose early evidence of eye disease development. A comprehensive eye exam includes a visual acuity test and a pupil dilation test so the eye doctor can observe the entire retina. Sometimes a fluorescein angiogram is performed to take photographs of the back of the eye.

Diabetic eye care also means keeping a close watch on blood sugar levels and keeping blood pressure under control. Maintaining a good diet, along with taking certain supplements known to have beneficial effects on diabetic eye disease, is also important.

If an eye disease is present, a number of treatment options are available depending on the disease and the stage reached. The best treatment for diabetic eye disease is prevention. If you have diabetes, Ophthalmic Partners can help you understand how diabetic eye care treatment can be effective in preventing vision problems and blindness.