Diabetic Retinopathy FAQs
Diabetes can affect your eye health by putting you at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition that could lead to blindness. The following FAQs from your Houston ophthalmologist at Museum District Eye Center provide more information about this disease.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that affects the retina of your eye. High blood sugar levels in your body cause retinal blood vessels to swell and leak blood into your eye. The retina plays a key role in visual recognition. Damage to your retina can result in vision loss. If you’ve had diabetes for 10 years or more, you’re at risk of developing this disease.
What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
It’s not uncommon to show no signs of diabetic retinopathy in the early stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, however, you could experience blurred or cloudy vision, blind spots, floaters and have difficulty distinguishing colors. In extreme cases, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness.
How can I prevent diabetic retinopathy?
As a diabetic, it’s important to keep tabs on your blood sugar levels to avoid problems with your health. By keeping blood sugar levels even, you can avoid developing diabetic retinopathy and other health problems. If you suffer from high blood pressure, it’s important to control that as well in order to protect your health. An annual eye exam from your Houston ophthalmologist can help manage this disease to avoid vision loss.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
Through routine eye exams, your Houston ophthalmologist will monitor your condition and recommend treatments according to the progression of the disease. Medications injected into the eyes can help reduce swelling of blood vessels in order to protect your sight. Laser surgery and vitrectomy surgery are other options for treating this disease to reduce your risk of blindness.
See Your Houston Ophthalmologist for Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
If you have diabetes and are having problems with your vision, contact Museum District Eye Center at 713-333-0151 today for an eye exam. Remember, early diagnosis and treatment are key to controlling diabetic retinopathy and saving your sight.