Are you a diabetic who is beginning to have problems with your vision? It is possible that you are suffering from diabetic eye disease, which can include a few different conditions. No matter which of the diseases you might have, it is possible that you are at risk of losing the ability to see. The best thing that you can do is visit an optometrist to get properly diagnosed and bring the condition under control before it gets worse. Take a look at this article to learn more about suffering from diabetic eye disease.
What is a Common Form of Diabetic Eye Disease?
A common form of diabetic eye disease is called diabetic retinopathy. Basically, the disease has a bad effect on the blood vessels that are in the retina of an eye. The blood vessels can get damaged when your blood sugar reaches extreme levels. The damaged blood vessels can cause blurred vision due to them leaking fluid that covers the retina. It is also possible for the blood vessels to hemorrhage.
How Can an Optometrist Make a Diagnosis?
One of the tests that might be done is a tonometry examination. The test is ideal for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy because it allows the optometrist to measure the amount of pressure in your eyes. High levels of pressure can point to leaking blood vessels. You will also be given a visual acuity test, which is the common test that most people undergo for eye problems that involves reading what is written on a chart. The retina and optic nerve in each of your eyes will also be examined via your pupils being dilated.
Will Surgery Be Necessary for Treating Diabetic Eye Disease?
Although it is possible that you might need to undergo surgery, it depends on which diabetic eye disease you are diagnosed with. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you might have to undergo anti-VEGF therapy if the condition has progressed to diabetic macular edema (DME). Basically, DME is simply an advanced version of diabetic retinopathy, which consists of large amounts of fluid building up in the macula of a retina. Laser surgery can be used for stopping blood vessels from leaking by burning them.
Can Diabetic Eye Disease Come Back After Treatment?
It is possible for you to develop diabetic eye disease again after undergoing treatment. However, you can prevent it by keeping your diabetes under control. It is also important to get your vision examined by an optometrist every now and then to catch symptoms so treatment can be done in the early stages of progress.
Contact a center like Northwest Ophthalmology to learn more.
Share10 May 2017
When a friend of mine started experiencing cloudy vision, they decided to put off a trip to their optometrist's office. Unfortunately, three months later, they found themselves completely blind in one eye—a condition that ended up being permanent. It turned out that they had an undiagnosed eye infection that destroyed their vision. After hearing about that problem, we realized that it might be smart to visit our eye doctor early—before permanent problems set in. Check out this blog for reasons not to skip out on early vision appointments, so that you can protect your family's vision and keep everyone happy and healthy.
