Diabetic Eye Disease: 4 Ways to Protect Your Vision

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body uses or produces insulin to control blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels remain high for too long, they can damage nerves and blood vessels, leading to problems in the legs, feet, and eyes.

Diabetic eye disease is a significant cause of vision loss among people with diabetes. It damages retinal blood vessels, which may lead to vision loss. However, you can take control of your eye health to prevent complications.

At Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge, our four experienced ophthalmologists provide diabetic eye care and routine eye exams to maintain optimal eye health.

Understanding diabetic eye disease

Diabetic eye disease is a group of conditions that affect the retina, the light-sensitive area near the back of your eye. It occurs over time from uncontrolled high blood sugar, which damages the tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the retina.

The result is several eye issues that include proliferative diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.

People with diabetes are at risk for diabetic eye disease with uncontrolled blood sugar. However, other factors like smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol also play into developing diabetic eye problems.

Symptoms of diabetic eye disease don't always start right away. As it progresses, you may notice floaters, light sensitivity, vision loss, and changes in color vision. Be sure to seek treatment as soon as you notice problems to avoid long-term damage.

Tips to protect your vision

Living with diabetes means taking extra care of your body and eyes, because you're at a higher risk for complications. Taking care of yourself early helps you avoid issues and complications later.

We offer various tips to help you avoid diabetic eye problems, including:

1. Get an annual eye exam

The most important thing you can do to protect your eyes is to see our ophthalmologists at least once a year. We check your eyes for any changes and provide you with tips and treatments to prevent your vision from worsening.

2. Manage blood sugar and blood pressure

Healthy blood sugar and blood pressure are essential in preventing diabetic eye disease. Although simply having diabetes and high blood pressure increases your risk, managing them with a healthy diet and exercise slows the progression of diabetic eye disease or may prevent it altogether.

3. Quit smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do when you have diabetes. Smoking also damages blood vessels and further increases the risk for diabetic eye disease. Quit smoking as soon as possible to avoid complications.

4. Wear sunglasses and protective eyewear

Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays, dirt, and dust is essential. Always wear sunglasses outside when it's sunny to prevent further damage to the retina.

Treatments for diabetic eye problems

If preventive measures aren't enough to prevent diabetic eye disease, we offer several treatments to help. Our team evaluates your eye health through various diagnostic tests and develops a treatment plan.

We offer various laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy that prevent blood vessels from leaking and further damaging the eyes. This treatment helps prevent vision loss from diabetes.

Vascular endothelial growth factor injections are another treatment option we offer. These injections reduce swelling and improve vision in diabetic eye disease.

Contact us at Ophthalmology Associates of Bay Ridge today to schedule an appointment for diabetic eye care. You can also book online by clicking here.