American Diabetes Alert Day brings attention to Diabetic Eye Disease that impacts millions of Americans. Diabetic Eye Disease is not one eye disease, but rather a group of different eye diseases that often affects people with diabetes.
One of the lesser-known facts of diabetes is that over time it can cause damage to your eyes and eventually poor vision or even blindness.
One of the eye diseases that may occur in people with diabetes is Diabetic Macular Edema. Diabetic Macular Edema is a condition where vessels protrude in the eye, leaking fluid or blood, which causes swelling and vision trouble.
Some other common eye diseases that appear in diabetics are glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic Retinopathy damages the blood vessels in the retina, causing vision trouble.
There are some steps you can take to help prevent diabetic eye disease, including managing your diabetes as a whole.
Best practices that you can take to help protect your eyes if you are diabetic include:
- Have an in-depth eye exam at least once per year
- Work with your doctor to manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
- Quit smoking, as it can raise factors that make your diabetes worse, such as blood pressure
Remember that vision trouble with diabetes happens over time, so there is still an opportunity to get back into good health and protect your vision. At first, you might not notice your diabetes affecting your eyes, so it is essential to maintain optimal health and visit your ophthalmologist regularly to protect your eyes in the future.
To schedule a preventative eye exam, contact Grosinger, Spigelman, and Grey, Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians, today!
