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If you have diabetes, routine vision care is extra important. This is because people with both types of the condition are vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy, a complication that may lead to blindness without treatment. To help you avoid this issue, here’s all you need to know about it.

Diabetic Retinopathy, Explained

A thin nerve tissue in the back of the eye, the retina converts light into neurological signals that your eyes send to the brain. This part processes light intensity and color, allowing the body to determine what you see. When blood sugar levels are not regulated with a healthy diet, insulin, or exercise, the vessels in the retina sustain damage.

Symptoms related to retinal blood vessel damage take time to manifest. They include blurred or fluctuating vision, issues seeing assorted colors, and dark areas in your eyesight. “Floaters,” or blind spots and strings in the air, are another symptom of diabetic retinopathy. Without proper vision care, someone with these problems could experience blindness or fluid leakage, a condition known as macular edema.

What You Need to Do for Prevention

vision careIf you have diabetes, avoiding retinal damage requires a healthy, balanced diet that keeps your blood sugar in check. Quinoa, black beans, lentils, Greek yogurt, wild salmon, berries, broccoli, and spinach are among the many foods that protect the eyes. Regular exercise and quitting habits that contribute to high blood pressure, including smoking, will also keep your vessels healthy.

Diabetic retinopathy prevention also involves routine eye exams to check each retina for blood vessel damage. An eye doctor can perform fluorescein angiography to take a picture of the retina. During this test, they’ll apply a fluorescent dye to the area to check the blood flow. If they find vessel damage, they can give you medications or perform laser surgery to shrink the damaged sections. This will restore your vision and keep you healthy.

 

The eye doctors at Medical Eye Associates provide exams to identify and treat eye conditions. Their optometry center features four convenient locations in Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Wauwatosa, and Mukwonago, WI, and has been serving the region since 1939. Whether you’re interested in LASIK® surgery or want to prevent diabetic eye problems, they’ll assist you in your vision care journey. Learn more about diabetic retinopathy on their website or call (262) 547-3352 to schedule a vision care appointment. 

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