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Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of individuals and can lead to other ailments, such as foot sores or diabetic eye disease. The latter entails several eye problems that can affect your vision. Since November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month, now is the perfect time to review the following guide and check in with your eye doctor.

What Is Diabetic Eye Disease?

This term is used to reference eye ailments that stem from diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. People with diabetes are at risk of developing these issues because they suffer from high glucose levels. This excess sugar causes blood vessels to swell and leak fluid. This causes the tissues in the eyes to swell, leaves them exposed to high pressure, which can lead to scarring.

What Are the Effects?

eye doctorUnfortunately, diabetic eye disease can have a serious effect on your vision. Cataracts are blurry splotches that will blur the images you see, making it harder to read and make out familiar objects. Glaucoma results in the gradual loss of side vision, causing vignetting, or an encroaching blackness around your field of view. Diabetic retinopathy involves the destruction of the retina, the rear lining of the eye, which can leave large black splotches and a general blurriness across the image in front of you.

Why Should You See an Eye Doctor?

Diabetic eye disease is gradual and progressive, so it’s possible to slow down or even prevent these issues if you catch them early and manage your blood sugar levels. If you start to notice spots or flashes of light in your field of vision, you should schedule a visit to an eye doctor.

You should also make annual appointments as a preventative measure. If you let signs of diabetic eye disease go unaddressed, you could be at risk of losing your vision entirely.

 

If you have diabetes and are concerned about any of these issues, get in touch with Alan L Ginsburg, OD. This respected eye doctor offers comprehensive screenings and exams to High Point, NC, area patients. He will also handle any surgery or treatments that you require. To learn more about this practice, visit the website, and call (336) 889-6566 to schedule an appointment today.

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