Eye Care For Patients with Diabetes

Diabetic Retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness among middle-aged patients in the United States. This is largely due to the number of people developing diabetes but can also be attributed to a lack of annual eye exams for those same patients. A recent study from Physician's Weekly found as few as 36% of people who are aware that they have diabetes are getting annual eye exams, despite the fact the majority of people diagnosed with diabetes develop retinopathy at some point. In fact, 21% develop this eye condition within the first two years! 

So, what is Diabetic Retinopathy?

A common side effect of diabetes, Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the retina of the eye are damaged due to high blood sugar. In early stages few or no symptoms are common, but as the disease progresses symptoms become more evident. If left untreated, blindness can occur. 

What are the symptoms? 

A few of the most noticeable symptoms are: 

• Spots or floaters in vision
• Blurred vision
• Fluctuating vision
• Impaired vision
• Dark spots
• Vision loss

Diabetic Retinopathy is a serious and common condition among diabetics. The lack of eye exams for these patients can lead to long term and serious vision impairment. If you have diabetes and have experienced any of the above symptoms, we urge you to schedule an exam as soon as possible. We can examine your eyes for signs of retinopathy and work with you to create a customized treatment plan if needed. Possible treatment options include controlling blood sugar, eye injections, laser surgery, and vitrectomy, a surgery to remove broken blood cells from the eye. 

The study from Physician's Weekly indicates patients may lack understanding of both the disease and insurance questions related to treatment. We want to help our community receive the best eye care possible. If you or a loved one is diabetic, has experienced symptoms, or have questions about treatment, please reach out to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help.