Diabetic Retinopathy

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of adults over the age of 40 with diabetes have diabetic retinopathy. And the rates are even higher among African- and Mexican-Americans.

If you suffer from diabetes, call New Vision Optometry today or schedule an appointment online for a comprehensive eye exam.

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes that affects your eyes. It is the number one cause of vision loss in diabetic patients.

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). This causes bleeding, swelling, and abnormal blood vessel growth. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop this eye condition.

Like many other eye conditions, diabetic retinopathy often causes few (if any) symptoms in the early stages. You may only notice minor vision issues that could be attributed to other causes. Left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.

Due to the fact that anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, it’s important to have regular comprehensive eye exams.

The disease typically affects both eyes. As it gets worse, you may notice symptoms such as:

• Empty or dark areas within your line of vision
• Fluctuating vision
• Dark strings and/or spots (i.e. floaters) in your vision
• Loss of vision
• Reduction in color vision

Management of your diabetes under the care of a medical professional — with a treatment plan that includes regular visits to the eye doctor — is the best way to prevent loss of vision.

Even if you are seeing your eye doctor on a yearly basis as recommended, if you notice the sudden appearance of the symptoms noted above, make an appointment right away.

Because diabetic retinopathy causes the retina’s blood vessels to bleed and grow abnormally, vision problems are common. You could experience one or more of the following complications:

At New Vision Optometry, we are committed to helping our patients enjoy exceptional vision throughout their lifetime. Call us today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetic retinopathy and how we can help.