As you may already know, diabetes can be a devastating condition that affects many parts of the body, including the circulatory system and nerves, but did you know that it can also destroy your vision? If you're concerned about the potential consequences of diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and other diabetes related eye complications, make an appointment at Wellington Eye Care. Our optometry center serving Fort Collins and Wellington can watch over your eyes and make any necessary recommendations to help you enjoy optimal vision for many years to come.
How Diabetes Damages the Eyes
Diabetes often shows no symptoms for quite some time, making it a disease that can do lasting damage without your knowing it. This holds true for your delicate eye tissues as well as other physical structures. The condition is characterized by uncontrolled blood sugar levels, either from a lack of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, or due to an acquired resistance to insulin. The potential dangers to your eyes include:
- Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive destruction of the retina, the tissue that collects visual information for transmission to the brain. As elevated blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that nourish the retina, the blood vessels may clog up and/or leak blood into the eye. In some cases, the eye responds by hastily manufacturing new and defective blood vessels, making the problem worse instead of better.
- Macular edema - Blood leakage beneath a section of the retina known as the macula can cause the macula to swell up. This can distort your central visual field.
- Other eye diseases - Diabetes can raise your risk for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.
Our Eye Doctor Can Help You Preserve Your Vision
Because diabetes can lurk undetected for years, it's critical to receive regular comprehensive eye and vision exams, whether you've been diagnosed with diabetes or not. Our Wellington eye doctor, Dr. Eklund, can check your retinal health by viewing the interior structures of the eye in detail. We will also check your eyes for signs of glaucoma, cataracts, and other diabetes-related diseases. Vision testing can tell us whether such a condition has started to limit your eyesight.
Prompt treatment can slow or arrest the progress of diabetic eye problems. First and foremost, we will urge you to work with your doctor on treating your diabetes. We may also recommend medications to prevent abnormal blood vessel growth and/or corticosteroids to reduce macular edema.
Schedule an Evaluation at Wellington Eye Care
Don't let diabetes deprive you of your eyesight. Call (970) 568-7161 for an appointment at our optometry center!