Diabetes-Related Vision Issues

Learn More About How Diabetes Affects Vision

According to the CDC, as of 2014, there are 29.1 million Americans that are diabetic and an estimated 8.1 million Americans that are undiagnosed. The CDC also estimates that there are a total of 86 million Americans that are considered “pre-diabetic” or borderline diabetic, and these rates only continue to rise.

Diabetes is a vascular condition, meaning it affects the blood vessels. The smallest blood vessels are the most vulnerable. One of the organs with the highest concentration of small blood vessels is in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness in the United States today! 

Diabetic retinopathy is a preventable disease, and early detection is the key. This is why anyone diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes must have an annual dilated eye exam. Many times the optometrist is the first doctor to help diagnose diabetes for the patient, especially in children. Optometrists are an integral part of the management and detection of diabetes because if they start to see changes in the eye, changes are also presumed to be found elsewhere in the body.

Diabetic retinopathy is lumped into different stages, the first being mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, where there will be a few small little bleeds in the retina. Moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy will have an increase in the number of bleeds in more locations within the retina and maybe a few areas of ischemia (lack of blood flow). Severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is when there are even more bleeding, ischemic areas, and possibly swelling in the central portion of the retina called the macula. All of these stages can be managed by an optometrist. Fundus photography, which is a picture of the back of the eye, is a must for any diabetic patient for proper management. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the last and worst of the stages. Typically, this stage is where patients are referred to a retina specialist for surgeries which can include eye injections and laser procedures.

Diabetes is a life-long condition that has drastic effects on many different organs if not controlled properly. Diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of blindness in the United States today and is preventable with proper management and annual comprehensive eye exams.

To schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Weber Optiks, please contact us in Effingham, Altamont, or Mattoon.