Diabetes is fast becoming a major health crisis in the world. Here in the United States, nearly one in five adults have some form of the disease, with the potential to cause severe harm within the body—including the eyes.
The impact diabetes can have on vision is a big concern for eyecare physicians like Dr. Sarah Queck and her Hattiesburg Eye Clinic colleagues. That’s why Hattiesburg Eye is putting the spotlight on diabetes-related eye diseases during Diabetes Eye Disease Awareness Month this November.
“Uncontrolled diabetes can damage blood vessels throughout the body,” says Dr. Queck, ophthalmologist with Hattiesburg Eye Clinic. “The tiny blood vessels in the eye are particularly vulnerable, which in turn can lead to severe vision impairment or even blindness.”
Diabetes is actually a group of diseases that interfere with the production or function of insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose in the bloodstream. Glucose is not the enemy—the body utilizes this basic sugar to provide energy to its cells. But it must stay within a certain range for good health—it’s insulin’s job to return the glucose level to normal when it becomes too high.
With Type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system actually targets and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in little to no hormone production. With Type 2, the body may produce normal amounts of insulin, but it’s not effective in regulating glucose because of a built-up resistance to it within the body.
Type 2 is by far the more prevalent form of diabetes, often related to lifestyle factors like obesity, inactivity, or age. Indeed, because the disease risk increases as people enter their senior years, diabetes—as well as related eye diseases—are on the rise as our population becomes proportionately older.
The most common related eye disease is diabetic retinopathy. As the blood vessels in the eye’s retina weaken due to the effect of diabetes, they begin to leak or actually bleed into the surrounding tissue.
“Diabetic retinopathy becomes progressively worse in stages, depending on the severity of bleeding or damage,” says Dr. Queck. “In its early stages, referred to as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, we encounter retinal bleeding and microaneurysms, tiny bulges in the weakened blood vessels. The damage to the eye can range from mild to severe, and may cause significant blurring in the center of a person’s vision.”
This stage may then progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. At this stage new blood vessels begin to grow in the retina in an attempt to accommodate the decrease in oxygen and blood flow brought on by the disease. These newer vessels are abnormal and weak, causing further bleeding and leakage. Ultimately, the growing damage could cause retinal detachment, glaucoma, or vitreous hemorrhage.
“This is a very serious situation in the progression of the disease with a high risk of severe vision loss or blindness if not treated,” says Dr. Queck.
A person with diabetes may also experience macular edema in which fluid from damaged vessels accumulates within the macula, a cluster of photoreceptor cells in the center of the retina.
“Macular edema often happens as a result of diabetic retinopathy, further complicating a person’s ability to see clearly, particularly in central vision,” says Dr. Queck.
To prevent the onset of diabetic eye disease, or at least minimize its effect, Dr. Queck has some recommendations for patients.
“It’s essential that anyone when first diagnosed with diabetes undergo a diabetic eye exam as soon as possible. This can determine if there are already any signs of diabetic retinopathy, and to establish a baseline for the future. We then recommend yearly exams, or more often if we detect any issues.”
Patients with diabetes should also see their eyecare provider immediately if they notice new blurring in their vision or an increase in floaters.
If eye problems associated with diabetes worsen, there are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. “When treatment becomes necessary, we refer patients to a retina specialist to administer injections or to perform surgery to minimize leakage or the formation of new blood vessels.”
Last but not least, Dr. Queck also says diabetic patients should follow their primary care provider’s instructions for maintaining tight control over their glucose levels.
“Managing your diabetes with proper diet, exercise, and appropriate medication can help you avoid or minimize many of the disease’s health consequences,” says Dr. Queck. “Making these lifestyle changes could help you better protect your eyesight.”
To learn more about protecting vision with diabetes, be sure to visit our website. To find out how Hattiesburg Eye Clinic can improve your vision health, call 601-268-5910 (or toll-free 800-624-8254) or schedule a consultation with us at www.hattiesburgeyeclinic.com/contact-us/
