Diabetes and the Eye
In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. At the Eye Surgery Institute we recommend a dilated eye examination at least yearly in all diabetic patients regardless of symptoms.
Diabetes can affect the whole body, including the eye. The eye disease is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. It is the leading cause of blindness among working adults. Controlling your blood sugar can prevent and/or delay the onset of the effects of diabetes in the eye.
Regular dilated eye examinations are very important to screen for and detect the effects of diabetes in the eye. Early diagnosis and possible treatment are essential for diabetic patients to maintain their vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the normal blood vessels in the back of your eye start to leak. This occurs from high blood sugars. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in stages from mild to moderate to severe and then to proliferative.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the most advanced stage. Tiny, fragile, abnormal blood vessels grow and can rupture and cause bleeding into the eye. Sometimes, scar tissue can develop that can contract and possibly cause a retinal detachment.
Diabetic Macular Edema
The macula is the area in the back of your eye that provides your central vision. Diabetic macular edema occurs when fluid builds up in the macula. This can cause distorted or blurry vision. Diabetic macular edema can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy.
Diagnosis
The effects of diabetes in the eye are diagnosed with a comprehensive eye examination including checking the visual acuity, dilation to evaluate the back of the eye (retina) and often an OCT image of the retina. Depending on necessity, other tests may be recommended also.
At the Eye Surgery Institute we commonly use a fluorescein angiogram to help detect the signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment
Diabetic retinopathy and macular edema can be treated with injections into the eye and /or laser treatment. Often it needs to be treated with multiple treatments over time. It is important to maintain good control of your sugars to decrease the effects of diabetes in the eyes.
Alaina Kronenberg, M.D.
Cataract Specialist
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Dearborn, Michigan 48126