Over 30 million Americans have diabetes, a chronic disease in which the body does not properly convert food into energy. Diabetes can lead to complications in several areas of the body, one of which is the eyes. The group of eye diseases that diabetics are more at risk of developing are collectively known as diabetic eye disease. These eye diseases include diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.
It is typically recommended for diabetics to get an eye exam once a year. A diabetic eye exam will involve being dilated so that the eye doctor can see a wider view of the retina. This will give a clear picture of the overall health of the retina. When damage to the retina is detected early on, treatment can be implemented quickly to help prevent vision loss. Getting a yearly diabetic eye exam allows the ophthalmologist or optometrist to monitor any changes in the health of your eye. Though if any noticeable changes in vision occur in between your yearly scheduled eye exams, you should notify your eye doctor. If you have severe diabetic eye disease, more frequent eye exams may be needed.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that affects the blood vessels of the retina. The longer you have had diabetes, the more likely you will develop diabetic retinopathy. There are two main stages of diabetic retinopathy:
In the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, treatment may not be necessary. Rather, the eye doctor will monitor the health of your eye to take note of any changes. If the disease progresses to the more advanced stage, then treatment may become necessary. The main treatment options available include:
It is believed that high blood sugar levels may lead to cataracts. In fact, according to the National Eye Institute, diabetics are 2-5 times more likely to develop cataracts than non-diabetics. Diabetics may also develop cataracts at a younger age than non-diabetics.
The risk of diabetics developing glaucoma is thought to be double that of non-diabetics. In addition, the risk of glaucoma can increase with age, therefore, the longer an individual has had diabetes, the more at risk they are of developing glaucoma.
To help prevent diabetic eye disease, there are a few key areas to focus on:
