Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness today. Some of the eye conditions that may be caused by diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic macular edema. All of these have the potential to cause severe vision loss. One of the biggest threats to your sight is called diabetic retinopathy. Your eye contains light-sensitive tissues in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that adversely affects the blood vessels in the retina. This is the leading cause of adult blindness for those who suffer with diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy unfortunately can go unnoticed until actual vision loss occurs. This is due to the fact that there are no initial symptoms until it’s often too late. One of the earliest signs is seeing floating spots within your vision. It’s important for anyone who suffers from diabetes to have regular eye exams to prevent vision loss from this disease. Treatment of diabetic eye disease often comes in the form of laser therapy. This can slow down the effects of the disease.
Laser treatment, or photocoagulation, uses intense laser light to fuse or destroy tissues in the retina that lead to vision impairment. In addition to these aggressive treatments, it is also helpful to keep your diabetes under control with proper diet and medications. This, along with the treatment, can help to negate the debilitating effects of vision loss and blindness. If you are concerned about Diabetic Eye Disease, please contact us for more information.
