Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults worldwide. Diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin to regulate the sugar we eat. People who have poorly controlled diabetes often experience eye related complications within the first ten years of the disease.

Diagnosis is definitively made through blood tests that check your fasting blood sugar (FSB) and hemoglobin A1C measurements, among other clinical observations.

Diabetic eye disease is determined by an eye doctor's (optometrist or ophthalmologist) evaluation of the eye: evidence may appear in the iris as excessive blood vessel growth. In the fundus (retina), we will see tell tale signs such as hemorrhages, blood vessel leakage, localized areas of nerve tissue deterioration ("cotton wool-spots"), among others. There is also a decrease in visual acuity, relative to how advanced the condition.

Treatment: The single most important thing is to control blood sugar levels. In mild to moderate cases of type II diabetes, this can often be accomplished with a strict diet and exercise program. In more severe cases, and people who have type I (aka juvenile) diabetes, oral and or injectable insulin supplements will be necessary to accurately control the blood sugar levels.

In cases of eye disease, treatment will depend on the location and severity of the disease. If evidence is seen of blood vessel leakage, a laser treatment will be performed to limit the damage to a local area, hopefully preventing further "proliferation" of the blood vessels. For people with Diabetes, it is critical that the undergo regular dilated fundus exams to determine if any damage is present or has progressed.