FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 1, 2016) -- Eye diseases are among the many conditions that can affect people with diabetes. These include diabetic retinopathy, cataract and glaucoma. They can affect patients with Type I and Type II diabetes and can cause sight-threatening complications and blindness.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million -- 9.3 percent -- Americans had diabetes in 2012. From 2005-2008, 4.2 million -- 28.5 percent -- adults with diabetes 40 years of age and older had diabetic retinopathy.
This condition causes progressive damage to the retina and retinal vessels, which line the back of the eye. There is typically bleeding and leaking of the microvasculature, which may subsequently lead to swelling of the central vision (macula). Hispanics and African- Americans as well as pregnant women are at greater risk for developing diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
The symptoms include seeing spots and floaters; blurry vision; difficulty seeing in dark or dim illumination; and having distorted or loss of vision. Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include anti-VEGF injection therapy, focal/grid macular laser surgery and/or corticosteroids.
Adults with diabetes are 2-5 times more likely to develop cataracts. Cataracts occur when increased sugar finds its way inside the fluid (aqueous humor) and lens of the eye. Copious amounts of sugar inside the natural lens of the eye causes the lens to swell and become cloudy, thus creating blurry vision. The lens converts sugar to sorbitol and cataracts form. Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, glare and difficulty with nighttime driving.
Treatment for cataracts is surgical, however, lifestyle modifications can be made, such as increased room lighting and magnifiers, until surgery is necessary.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve in the back of the eye, which is an extension of the brain. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as compared to non-diabetics.
Neovascular glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma in diabetics and occurs when retinal blood vessels are damaged and new but abnormal vessels are created in their place. These vessels can start to grow on the iris and obstruct fluid flow in the eye, increasing the intraocular pressure. The increased pressure damages the retinal nerve fiber layers of the optic nerve. Treatments for neovascular glaucoma are difficult but include pressure lowering ophthalmic drops, laser surgery and/or fluid draining implants.
Ocular diseases associated with diabetes can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. According to the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetics should undergo yearly comprehensive dilated eye exams.
Call Kenner Eagle Eye Clinic to schedule an exam at (804) 734-9253.
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