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Disorders and Diseases of the Eye: Diabetes
Disorders of the Eye:
Diseases of the Eye:
Diabetes is a
disease that interferes with the body's ability to use and store sugar and can cause many
health problems. One, called diabetic retinopathy, can weaken and cause
changes in the small blood vessels that nourish your eye's retina, the delicate, light
sensitive lining of the back of the eye. These blood vessels may begin to swell or
leak,hindering the retina's ability to function properly.
The early stages of diabetic retinopathy may cause blurred vision, or they may
produce no visual symptoms at all. As the disease progresses, you may notice a cloudiness
of vision, blind spots or floaters.
If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause
blindness. This is one reason it is so important to have your eyes examined regularly by
an eyecare professional, especially if you are a diabetic or if you have a family history
of diabetes.
To detect diabetic retinopathy, your optometrist can look
inside your eyes with an instrument called an ophthalmoscope that lights and magnifies the
blood vessels in your eyes. If you have diabetic retinopathy, laser and other surgical
treatments can be used to reduce its progression and decrease the risk of vision loss.
Early treatment is important because once damage has occurred, the effects are usually
permanent.
If you are a diabetic, you can help prevent diabetic
retinopathy by taking your prescribed medication as instructed, sticking to your diet,
exercising regularly, controlling high blood pressure and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
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