Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes causes a number of health complications including diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. The expert optometrists at Catonsville Eye Group diagnose diabetic retinopathy and offer treatments to manage your symptoms and stop the progression of the disease. If you have diabetes and live in or around Catonsville, Maryland, you should have regular eye exams at Catonsville Eye Group, so your optometrist can protect and preserve your vision and eye health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does diabetes affect my eye health?

Diabetes leads to higher-than-average glucose levels in your blood, which increases the pressure on the insides of your blood vessels, contributing to high blood pressure. Pressure also increases in the small blood vessels in your eyes.

Over time, the excess pressure causes the blood vessels to leak fluid into your eye. This causes swelling in your macula, also known as macular edema. Your macula is a small part of your retina that performs a critical function: It’s the part of your eye that allows you to see what’s right in front of you. When left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

As with many health conditions, diabetic retinopathy might not cause symptoms in its early stages. However, as the disease advances, you may notice symptoms such as:

Blurry or fluctuating vision
Floaters
Dulled color perception
Dark spots in your central vision
Vision loss

If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with the expert optometrists at Catonsville Eye Group for diagnosis.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

While there’s no cure for diabetic retinopathy, quick treatment from the doctors at Catonsville Eye Group can slow or stop the progression of the disease. One of the most important steps in treating diabetic retinopathy, especially when it’s diagnosed early, is managing your diabetes with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and following your doctor’s instructions. However, if your Catonsville optometrist catches your eye disease in a later stage, he can prescribe medicine or treatments like laser therapy or vitrectomies to shrink the blood vessels in your eye, remove excess fluid, and reduce macular swelling.

Can I prevent diabetic retinopathy?

You can reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy by managing your condition. Eating a healthy, low-sugar diet and getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day can help control your blood sugar levels and reduce the damage high-glucose levels can cause. You should also follow your optometrist’s advice on how often you should have comprehensive eye exams. Routine eye exams allow your optometrist to monitor your eye health and offer appropriate treatment as needed.