Diabetic Eye Disease

Poorly regulated and high levels of sugar in the blood due to diabetes can cause changes in the optics of the eye, resulting in blurred vision and trouble focusing. Diabetes can also cause cataracts, a clouding of the lens inside the eye that blurs vision. The disease can cause double vision by affecting the nerves that control the alignment and movement of the eyes, and can cause the optic nerve to be more easily damaged by glaucoma.

But the most important cause of visual impairment in people with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which changes occur in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina.

In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision.If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss.  You may not be aware of any change in vision until the disease has advanced to a site-threatening stage. 

Most vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented with early detection and treatment.  The chances of having some form of diabetic retinopathy increase the longer a person has had diabetes. Retinopathy is present in 90 percent of those who have had the disease for more than 20 years. Research has shown that severe visual loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented or delayed by laser treatment, but only if the retinopathy is diagnosed early enough. Annual eye exams are a must for diabetics.

Our retinal specialist, Dr. Lazarus, is the only doctor in the Kentuckiana region using the new technologically advanced PASCAL laser for treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other retinal disorders.  

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