Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world, and in America. It is the most common cause of blindness in people younger than 65. In fact, it affects nearly half of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes. A diabetic eye disease is a group of conditions that affect people with diabetes, the most common being diabetic retinopathy. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision, and diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. The two types of diabetic retinopathy are proliferative and nonproliferative. Proliferative occurs when the blood vessels become obstructed, and the retina doesn’t receive the nutrition it needs. In nonproliferative, the blood vessels develop leaks allowing blood or fluid to seep into the retina.

Diabetic eye disease has no warning signs and finding treatment early before you experience symptoms of vision loss, is the best way to control the disease. Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is imperative that you regularly schedule an in-depth and comprehensive eye exam. At Greenwood Eye Clinic, we offer several methods of treatment for diabetic eye disease, including laser treatment. If you or a loved one has diabetes, please schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision loss symptoms.