Diabetes, a disease that produces high blood sugar levels, affects more than 37.3 million Americans — 11.3% of the population. Though there are several forms, some 90-95% of cases in adults are Type 2, usually the result of an unhealthy diet, excess weight, and a sedentary lifestyle.
That makes it the most preventable form.
At Omphroy Eye Care in Aiea, Hawaii, ophthalmologist Luis C. Omphroy, MD, provides comprehensive eye exams for diabetics. Diabetics are susceptible to eye damage, and these exams focus on preventing known complications from the disease, helping save your sight.
If you have diabetes or if you’re at risk for developing it, here’s why complications develop and what you can do to prevent them.
The high blood sugar levels characteristic of all forms of diabetes may lead to a variety of systemic complications, including:
They can also lead to a number of eye-related complications ranging from blurry vision to total blindness. Some of the major problems affecting the eyes include:
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness, affecting over 25% of American adults living with diabetes. Almost everyone with Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) eventually develops nonproliferative retinopathy, and most of those with Type 2 diabetes (insulin-resistant) also get it.
In the early stages of NPDR, blood vessels weaken and bulge into the retina (the light-sensing portion at the back of the eye) or leak blood into the tissue. As a result, lipids (fats) can deposit on the retina, impairing vision.
In the late stages of NPDR, the macula, which is the central 2% of the retinal tissue, can swell, leading to blurred vision.
As NPDR progresses to PDR, blood vessels start to seal themselves off, preventing oxygen and other nutrients from reaching the macula.
In response, new vessels proliferate on the retina’s surface to feed it, but they don’t help. They can cause anything from visual floaters, which aren’t inherently harmful, to scar tissue buildup and/or a detached retina, which can rob you of sight.
Glaucoma is a collection of different eye conditions that all damage the optic nerve, preventing it from sending information to the brain and resulting in vision loss. High blood sugar levels interfere with the eye’s ability to drain properly, increasing the fluid pressure inside your eye and leading to nerve damage.
Many forms of glaucoma produce no warning signs until they’re well-advanced, and once you lose any part of your vision, you can’t get it back.
Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens clouds over with debris. They’re common among older populations, but diabetics often develop them earlier, and they deteriorate faster.
Understanding your condition is the best way to learn how to manage it.
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, talk with your doctor about a healthy diet and exercise plan that keeps your sugar under control. If you can keep your levels in the normal range, you’re at a lower risk for developing both systemic and eye-related complications.
The second thing you need to do is to make regular annual appointments with Dr. Omphroy for diabetic eye exams.
At each visit, Dr. Omphroy evaluates both your vision and your eye health, but he pays special attention to the parts of the eye that diabetes typically damages.
He dilates your eyes so he can see the internal structures clearly, then performs a microscopic examination of the retina, evaluates the retinal tissue and optic nerve, and combines these with tests that help him evaluate the blood vessels, nerves, and other structures inside your eyes.
The detailed test results allow Dr. Omphroy to diagnose problems long before you develop observable symptoms. The sooner you can start treatment, the more sight you can save. The information also allows you to adjust your diabetes regimen, if necessary, to promote better eye health.
Do you have diabetes but haven’t had a recent eye exam? It’s time to come into Omphroy Eye Care for a comprehensive diabetic eye exam to ensure everything’s OK. To get started, give our office a call at 808-487-7700 today.
