Protect Your Eyesight from Diabetes

Many Americans are affected by diabetes, which occurs when the body cannot correctly process sugar levels in the blood. Patients with diabetes can develop health complications from high blood sugar levels, including ones that affect the vision centers.

Annual dilated eye exams can help protect the vision of our patients with diabetes.

Visual complications from diabetes are manageable with proactive eye care. If you have questions about your eye health or the effects that diabetes can have on your vision, contact us today and ask about a diabetic eye exam.

Book Appointment

Visual Complications From Diabetes

High blood sugar levels can result in blurry vision. Adjusting insulin levels can temporarily correct blurred vision, but if blood sugar remains elevated for an extended period, it can lead to various diabetic eye diseases. Contact Seal Beach Eyes if you have any concerns about your eyesight.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye condition linked to diabetes. It occurs when high blood glucose levels damage your eyes’ blood vessels, causing them to bulge and leak.

The retina is the inner lining at the back of your eye. Its primary purpose is to read light focused through the lens, converting it to neural signals. These neural signals are then translated by the brain, interpreting the images you see.

As diabetic retinopathy progresses, the retina attempts to grow new (abnormal) blood vessels to compensate for fluid loss. These new vessels can break and create scar tissue, causing floaters in your vision.

At the beginning stage of diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms or only temporary episodes of blurred vision. As retinal damage progresses, it can result in blindness.

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

The macula is the centermost area of your retina. Its primary function is to see objects in precise detail directly at the center of your vision.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy. Damage to the small blood vessels in the retina can result in a fluid buildup under the macula. This buildup can result in vision loss.

DME is a manageable condition if caught early and treated on a routine basis.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process. As we grow older, our eyes’ lens becomes rigid and cloudy, preventing light from reaching the retina. Our patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing cataracts at an earlier age.

For more information about cataracts, visit our Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management page.

Compassionate Care For Your Vision

At Seal Beach Eyes, we recommend one dilated eye exam per year if you have diabetes. Our practice has a genuine care for your eyesight and a toolkit of state-of-the-art technology to help diagnose and manage any condition.

Your visual health is in great hands. Book a diabetic eye exam today!

Book Appointment