Diabetes

What types of eye problems are related to diabetes?

Eye diseases are common among people with diabetes, especially if you’ve had diabetes for many years or your diabetes is poorly controlled. Common types of diabetic eye diseases include:

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy affects the tiny blood vessels inside your eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness and vision issues in patients with diabetes.

Diabetic macular edema (DME)

DME is a consequence of diabetic retinopathy that causes swelling in an area of your retina called the macula.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that causes increased pressure inside your eye. Diabetes doubles your risk of developing glaucoma.

Cataracts

Cataracts cause cloudy vision as the natural lens in your eye becomes cloudy, and that cloudiness prevents light from entering your eye and impairs vision.

Diabetic eye diseases can lead to severe pain and blindness if left untreated.

Why does diabetes cause eye problems?

Chronically high blood sugar caused by diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels located inside your eye. This can cause the blood vessels to break down and leak fluid into your eye. In turn, this causes swelling in the eye and puts pressure on structures within the eye that control your vision.

If the damage is left untreated, vision loss can become permanent and lead to blindness.

How are diabetic eye problems diagnosed?

If you have diabetes, the Columbia Eye Associates & Family Focus Eye Care team recommends an annual eye exam. During the exam, your eyes are dilated, and your provider uses a handheld tool with a light to look inside your eyes for signs of bleeding, swelling, and damage to the blood vessels. Based on the results of your exam, your provider determines if you have a diabetic eye disease.

How are diabetic eye problems treated?

Treatment for diabetic eye disease includes:

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy

Anti-VEGF injections into your eye can stop blood vessels from leaking and decrease the pressure in your eye.

Laser surgery

Laser surgery can be used to carefully burn segments of the blood vessels in your eyes to slow leaking and reduce macular edema.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids can be implanted or injected into your eye along with other injections or laser therapy to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Depending on your diagnosis and overall health, the team determines which treatment is best for you.

To schedule a diabetic eye exam at Columbia Eye Associates & Family Focus Eye Care, call or use the online booking tool now.