Share:

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition common in older people who have had diabetes for many years. When blood sugar levels are uncontrolled, blood vessels in the retinas may be damaged, causing them to swell, leak, or constrict. Diabetic retinopathy impairs vision quality during its later stages and may ultimately lead to blindness. Talk to your eye doctor if you start to notice signs of the disorder to prevent the condition from worsening.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms?

At first, there are no signs of a problem. As the condition progresses, however, you may start to notice specific impairments due to blood vessels leaking fluids in the retina. As the retinal tissue swells in response, you may experience the following:

  • An excessive number of “floaters” in your vision
  • Black spots
  • Blurred vision to fluctuating degrees
  • Impaired color vision
  • Vision loss
  • Blind spots in peripheral vision

Why Regular Eye Exams Are Important

eye doctorAn annual eye exam performed by an eye doctor helps prevent the onset of any progressive dysfunction, including diabetic retinopathy. If you notice your vision is changing or suddenly becoming blurry, your doctor will be able to identify the cause and solutions available to you.

If you’re a diabetic who is pregnant, visit your eye doctor regularly, as pregnancy can worsen this dysfunction. Your doctor may want you to get checked multiple times leading up to the birth.

How to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy

Stay on top of your diabetes management protocol to protect your vision, and speak to your physician about ways to better control your blood sugar. Visit your eye doctor at least annually so that you’re consistently aware of your eye health and are able to take action as needed to treat symptoms.

 

Midwest Eye Center: A Division of TriState Centers for Sight offers over 34 years of service addressing diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and general eye health. Their knowledgeable and highly trained eye doctors have performed thousands of successful cataract and laser vision surgeries throughout Cincinnati, OH, and northern Kentucky, providing quality care with state-of-the-art equipment for each patient. Visit their website for more information on their advanced procedures or schedule your appointment today by calling (859) 525-6215.

tracking