How Does Diabetes Link To My Retinas?
Complications from diabetes are not uncommon. Diabetes can have a detrimental impact on one’s health, particularly the eyes. Poorly controlled, high blood sugar levels brought on by diabetes can lead to diabetic retinopathy, a condition that causes damage to the blood vessels in the tissue at the back of the eye. The retina is that light sensitive layer of tissue and is responsible for receiving and transmitting visual information to the brain via the optic nerve enabling you to see. Left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss or even blindness as the abnormal vessels can stimulate the growth of scar tissue which can lead to retinal detachment.
Because it is a lifelong condition, diabetes is linked to the retinas and the overall health and function of the eyes. Early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include eye floaters, flashes of light, blurry vision, dark areas of vision and trouble distinguishing colors. Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include laser therapy, prescribed medications such as VEGF inhibitors, corticosteroid injections and a surgery called vitrectomy which involves removing all or part of the vitreous, gel-like substance that fills the eye and reattaching the retina. Diabetes can also cause other eye diseases, some of which impact the retina such as macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Protecting your vision and reducing the chance of vision loss can be accomplished with a few proactive measures. Quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, keeping blood pressure in check, monitoring blood sugar levels, and scheduling a yearly comprehensive, dilated eye exam to check for any areas of concern or to uncover diseases before symptoms begin, will keep diabetes from impacting your retinas.
For more information about how diabetes is linked to the retinas and how to preserve your vision, visit Associated Retina Consultants at WEBSITE. To know for sure if your retinas are healthy, schedule an eye exam by calling our office at 602-242-4928