Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans under the age of 74. It interferes with the body’s ability to use and store sugar (glucose). Diabetes is typically characterized by too much sugar in the blood, which can cause damage to the body – primarily the blood vessels.
Diabetes & The Eye
When the blood vessels become weak due to this damage, they are more prone to leak fluid. This leakage will occur throughout the body, including the retina (light-sensitive lining of the back of the eye). This causes the retinal tissue to swell, which may or may not result in vision changes initially. When this occurs, it is referred to as diabetic retinopathy and is what our doctors are trained to diagnose and help treat. Early diabetic retinopathy commonly does not affect the vision and is why yearly monitoring is recommended. We use the dilated exam information to coordinate care with primary care physicians and endocrinologists.
Who It Affects
More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it! Because of this scary fact, it is even more important to continue to have your recommended annual eye examinations. We are dedicated to early diagnosis and timely treatment to prevent diabetes-related blindness.