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Diabetic
Disease of the Retina
How does diabetes affect the retina?
Most persons suffering from diabetes develop changes in
the retina over a period of time. This is caused by damage
to the small blood vessels (or capillaries) in the
retina.
What can I do to limit the diabetic damage to my
retina?
You should consult the doctor treating you for diabetes
regularly and follow all instructions regarding diet and
medication. It is a fact that only strict control of blood
sugar will help minimize damage to the retina. Frequent
examination of the retina after full dilation of the pupil
can help detect retinopathy early, leading to better
treatment outcomes. This retinal examination should be done
periodically even if your vision is clear.
Can diabetes affect other parts of the eye?
Retinal changes are the major problem, but at times
diabetes can also cause a rise in eye pressure (glaucoma),
clouding of the lens (cataract), and weakness of the optic
nerve or eye muscle. Cataracts often occur at a younger age
in diabetic patients. Glaucoma can cause damage to the optic
nerve. In fact diabetes is one of the several possible
causes of glaucoma.
Damage to the small vessels of the optic nerve can affect
vision, and weakness of the eye muscles may cause double
vision. A diabetic is also more likely to develop sudden
vision loss due to occlusion of the retinal vessels (branch
or central retinal vein occlusion), bleeding in the vitreous
cavity, detachment of the retina, or infections of the
cornea and vitreous.
How does diabetic retinal disease (diabetic retinopathy) affect the vision?
Swelling (edema) in the central part of the retina (macular
edema) can cause blurring of fine vision. Fragile new
blood vessel sprouts may break and bleed into the interior
of the eyeball, causing blurring of the entire field of
vision. In the early stages of the disease the vision
remains good, therefore, the disease may escape notice. That
is why it is essential to have regular retinal examinations
if you know that you have diabetes.
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