Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that occurs in people who have diabetes. It causes progressive damage to the retina, and according to a recent report, is the leading cause of blindness among US adults ages 20-74.

How Does Diabetes Affect My Eyes?

Diabetes interferes with the body’s ability to use and store sugar. It’s characterized by too much sugar in the blood, which can cause damage throughout the entirety of your body, including your eyes. Over time, diabetes damages the blood vessels in the retina and when the blood vessels begin to leak blood and other fluids, diabetic retinopathy occurs.

Leading Cause of Blindness

The CDC recently published a report that declared diabetic retinopathy as the leading cause of blindness among US adults ages 20-74. Diagnosing the condition early and treating it in a timely fashion “are critical, as 50 percent of patients are diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective, the CDC said.” For patients undergoing timely treatment, “intravitreal injection has changed the course of the disease, said Dr. Andrew Schimel, a retina specialist at the Center for Excellence in EyeCare at Baptist Health South Florida.”

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

People who have diabetic retinopathy can be asymptomatic or have symptoms that include seeing spots, blurred vision and difficulty seeing well at night. When people will diabetes experience high blood sugar for an extended period of time, fluid can accumulate in the lens inside of the eye that controls focusing. This leads to blurred vision until the high blood sugar is corrected.

What Can I Do?

Routine eye exams are important for maintaining healthy eyes, regardless of age or of physical health. During a comprehensive eye exam, a doctor here at the Catonsville Eye can determine your prescription for eyeglasses, but he or she will also check your eyes for common diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy.  Diabetic Retinopathy, being asymptomatic, makes an eye exam increasingly more important, as it could be the only way to detect diabetic retinopathy early on.

CALL THE CATONSVILLE EYE GROUP TODAY!

Here at the Catonsville Eye Group, providing the best patient care is out #1 priority. The professionalism of our doctors coupled with our capable and caring staff, state of the art technology, and extensive frame and lens options are what have made Catonsville Eye Group the first choice for families in our community.  We strive to provide the best possible professional care at fair and reasonable prices to our patients in the most courteous way possible!

If you would like to schedule an appointment, order contact lenses, or ask questions about our services at Catonsville Eye Group, please call our office at (410) 747-1221 or email us by clicking this link. We will respond to your request within 24 hours. You can also schedule an appointment online! You can access our web scheduler through our website or Facebook page.

We’re located at the heart of the Music City at 611 Frederick Rd., Suite 101. Drop on by, or schedule an appointment today. We’re looking forward to seeing you!