Diabetic Retinopathy
Welcome to Eye Max – Your Dedicated Optometrists Serving Lexington and Nicholasville, Kentucky Since 2000.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
This condition is a side effect of diabetes that damages the blood vessels located near the back side of your eye called the retina. The retina is the lining located at the back side of your eye where your eye changes light into images.
What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?
Your diabetes causes blood sugar levels that are too high, which can then damage your blood vessels. Having a significant amount of sugar in your blood can sometimes lead to the blockage of the small blood vessels that are needed to keep your retina healthy. This, in turn, chokes off its blood supply, then your eye tries to produce new blood vessels.
Diabetic retinopathy is sometimes also caused by certain medical conditions such as lupus or sickle cell disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
There are several tell-tale signs that you might be developing diabetic retinopathy.
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Spots or floating dark strings in your vision called floaters
- Fluctuating vision
- Difficulty perceiving colors
- Empty areas or dark areas in your vision
- New or abnormal blood vessels
- Vision loss
What Happens When You Have Diabetic Retinopathy?
For most people, when they have diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in their retina will expand, bleed, or leak fluid and this can lead to changes in their vision and sometimes even blindness. For others, the eye will produce more blood vessels that are abnormal, and they will grow on the retina.
Is There a Cure for Diabetic Retinopathy?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, the best way to prevent it from happening is to take care of your health and to see your doctor and optometrist regularly. When diabetic retinopathy is caught early, your optometrist can help you prevent comorbid conditions from developing.
Contact Eye Max Today!
If you are having vision problems and need an optometrist in Lexington, KY, an optometrist in Nicholasville, KY, or any of the surrounding areas, please Contact Eye Max today. We look forward to serving you!
