Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye diseases are the number one cause of blindness in American adults today. At Optic Gallery Horizon Ridge, Anne Valdez, OD, and the team provide diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diabetic eye disease in the Henderson, Nevada, office. You can prevent vision loss from diabetes with proper care, so call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is diabetic eye disease?

Diabetic eye disease is a group of diseases that can affect people with Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes. Diabetes occurs when your body can’t use glucose (sugar) properly, leading to excessive glucose in the blood. 

High blood sugar can cause many types of damage in the body and is particularly harmful to nerves and blood vessels. Diabetic eye disease affects the tiny blood vessels and other structures within your eye, causing serious damage and, potentially, vision loss.

The main diabetic eye diseases include:

• Diabetic retinopathy: leaking blood vessels in the back of the eye (retina)
• Diabetic macular edema: fluid buildup on the retina
• Cataracts: cloudy eye lens 
• Glaucoma: high eye pressure causing optic nerve damage

Diabetic eye disease may take time to develop but can also be present even before you receive a diabetes diagnosis. For example, studies show that about 13% of people with Type 2 diabetes have diabetic retinopathy at the time of their diagnosis.

How is diabetic eye disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually happens during comprehensive eye exams. Optic Gallery Horizon Ridge uses the most advanced medical equipment to examine all parts of your eye carefully, including the areas in the back of the eye (most often damaged by diabetes).

Schedule an eye exam after you’re diagnosed with diabetes to screen for diabetic eye disease in its early stages when it’s most treatable. An eye doctor can sometimes detect the signs of diabetes in the eyes, like blood vessel damage, even before a diabetes diagnosis. 

How is diabetic eye disease treated?

Treatment of diabetic eye disease varies with the condition, its stage, and your symptoms. You may need daily prescription eye drops, laser therapy, or minimally invasive surgery.

About 90% of vision loss from diabetic eye disease is preventable. However, it’s important to have routine diabetic eye exams at least once a year after your diabetes diagnosis. Diabetic eye exams are in-depth exams focusing on the areas that diabetes usually damages. 

Maintaining control of your blood sugar is crucial for preventing vision loss and preserving your whole-body health. Work with your primary care physician or endocrinology specialist for help with blood sugar monitoring, healthy diet, weight loss, insulin therapy, and other methods of managing your disease. 

To receive diabetic eye disease care, Call Optic Gallery Horizon Ridge or click on the online booking tool today.