It’s estimated that over 34 million grown-ups have some form of diabetes. While it’s common knowledge that cases with diabetes must keep their blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol situations in check, numerous people may not realize that cases with diabetes should also pay extra attention to their vision and retinal health. Because diabetes can affect the entire vascular system, the eyes are extremely vulnerable to a number of vision- hanging conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which high situations of blood glucose cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy can affect cases with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women with gravid diabetes are also at threat of developing diabetic retinopathy. In its foremost stages, diabetic retinopathy generally doesn’t cause any conspicuous symptoms. Still, as time goes on and blood vessel damage progresses, cases come decreasingly likely to lose their vision ever.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy that occurs when fluid accumulates in the macula, which is the central portion of the retina. The macula controls our central vision and enables us to perform complex vision tasks similar as reading, driving, and seeing in fine detail. When abnormal or damaged blood vessels in the retina leak into the macula, that can significantly disrupt vision and indeed lead to endless vision loss.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an marquee term used to describe colorful sub-conditions that affect structural damage to the optical vision. This damage is generally caused by extremely high pressure in the eyes. Glaucoma can affect one or both eyes, and if left undressed, ultimately leads to endless vision loss. Because cases with diabetes frequently have to keep their blood pressure in check, diabetes is considered one of the numerous threat factors for developing glaucoma. The chances of developing glaucoma come indeed advanced for cases who have diabetic retinopathy.

Cataracts

Cataracts do when clumps of protein accumulate in the eye and are characterized by the appearance of semi-opaque, cloudy area over the lens of the eye. As the condition progresses, light is unfit to completely enter the eye. As a result, it becomes decreasingly exhaustion for the retina to admit light and convert it into signals for the brain to interpret as images; this is another form of vision loss. For cases with diabetes, cataracts are generally caused by exorbitantly high situations of blood sugar.

Diabetic Eye Disease Prevention

In numerous cases, the most severe and endless goods of diabetic eye conditions can be staved off with preventative measures. These include

• Managing blood glucose situations
• Maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure situations
• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Not smoking

One of the most important effects that cases with diabetes should do for their vision health is get a comprehensive diabetic eye test at least once a time from a diabetic eye specialist. The before a croaker catches and judgments diabetic eye conditions, the more likely the case is to have a decent chance of recovery.
To learn further about diabetic eye health or to make an appointment with a diabetic retina specialist in the Austin metro area, contact Rotary Eye Hospital.