Diabetic Eye Disease Treatment in Monterey, CA
Diabetes is a complex medical condition that can have devastating effects on an individual’s vision. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss in adults aged 20 to 74. The reason behind vision loss in people living with diabetes is uncontrolled blood sugar levels, which affect every major organ in the body, including the eyes. Although keeping blood sugar levels close to normal may slow the onset or the progression of eye disease, it may not completely prevent the formation of:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic Retinopathy
At Eye MD Monterey, we provide diabetic patients with early and effective medical intervention to preserve their eye health and vision. If you have diabetes, annual dilated eye exams are essential to your eye health.
Please contact us today to schedule your eye exam.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease in patients who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In diabetic retinopathy, high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes affect the blood vessels in the retina (light-sensitive tissue in the eye), thereby affecting vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms
The most common symptoms in patients with diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Eye floaters and spots
- Cloudy vision and formation of cataracts
- Scotoma (shadow in the field of view)
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Eye pain
If you have diabetes and you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy has four stages:
- Mild nonproliferative retinopathy
- Moderate nonproliferative retinopathy
- Severe nonproliferative retinopathy
- Proliferative retinopathy
Mild nonproliferative retinopathy is characterized by swelling of the blood vessels in the retina. As the condition progresses to moderate and severe nonproliferative retinopathy, the blood vessels become blocked, depriving the retina of its much-needed blood supply. Subsequently, the body tries to compensate for a lack of retinal nourishment through the formation of new blood vessels, leading to proliferative retinopathy. Proliferative retinopathy occurs when the newly formed vessels, which are often abnormal and fragile, begin to leak blood into the eye.
Diabetic retinopathy may also lead to macular edema. This occurs when fluid from newly formed blood vessels leaks into the macula (the part of the eye responsible for central vision) causing the macula to swell. Macular edema can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy and can cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis
Diabetic retinopathy may be detected during routine eye exams. If you have diabetes, it is essential to disclose this information to your eye doctor.
In addition to routine eye exams, diabetic retinopathy and its severity level can also be determined through advanced diagnostic testing such as fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT). Each method focuses on providing clear images of the retina.
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment in Monterey
Diabetic retinopathy cannot be cured; therefore, all treatment efforts are focused on slowing the progression of the disease. Mild to severe non-proliferative retinopathy can be managed effectively through controlled blood sugar levels as well as blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.
The most common treatments used to manage proliferative retinopathy or macular edema include laser surgery, injections of steroids or the drug Avastin, and vitrectomy surgery. Laser surgery can be used to seal off leaking blood vessels and may require more than one treatment session. Steroid injections help control certain chemicals in the eye, thereby reducing fluid accumulation. Avastin or similar medications also have been shown to decrease such swelling. Vitrectomy is a procedure performed in severe cases to remove blood from the center of the eye.
When Should You Be Screened for Diabetic Retinopathy?
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you should be screened for diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes-related eye conditions at least once a year. At Eye MD Monterey, we will be more than happy to help you manage your eye health and preserve your vision.