How Diabetes Affects Your Vision

rican Diabetes Foundation reports that more 23.6more blood vessels are blocked, depriving several
million children and adults in the United States whoareas of the retina with their blood supply. These
have diabetes. Another 5.7 million people areareas of the retina send signals to the body to
undiagnosed and often unaware they suffer fromgrow new blood vessels for nourishment.
diabetes.4. Proliferative Retinopathy. At this advanced
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does notstage, the signals sent by the retina for
produce or properly use insulin. There are twonourishment trigger the growth of new blood
types of diabetes; Type 1- is when the body failsvessels. This condition is called proliferative
to produce insulin, the hormone that allows cells toretinopathy. These new blood vessels are
turn suage and starch to energy. Type 2- is whenabnormal and fragile. They grow along the retina
the body is resistant or fails to peoperly use theand along the surface of the clear, vitreous gel
insulin, this is the most common form.that fills the inside of the eye. By themselves,
How diabetes effects visionthese blood vessels do not cause symptoms or
Nealy 80% of all patients who have had diabetesvision loss. However, they have thin, fragile walls.
for 10 years or longer suffer from complicationsIf they leak blood, severe vision loss and even
of diabetes mellitus or damage to the retina; alsoblindness can result.
called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy isTreatment
damage to the blood vessels in the eye causedProper treatment of diabetic retinopathy can cut
by diabetes. It is the leading cause of visual lossthe risk of vision loss by over half. Treatment
among American adults aged 20 to 65. Researchbefore diabetic retinopathy causes severe loss is
has indicated at least 90% of new diabetic relatedmuch more effective than later in the disease. For
cases could be avoided with proper and vigilantthis reason, early diagnosis is critical in order to
treatment and mointoring of the eyes.prevent visual loss and blindness. Control of
Symptoms & Signsdiabetes and blood pressure is important; intensive
There generally are no early warning signs or paincontrol of blood glucose can delay onset and slow
associated with diabetic retinopathy. Characteristicprogression of retinopathy.
signs of retinal changes may be seen duringThere are treatments for diabetic retinopathy,
examination of the retina. Severe retinopathywhich usually include laser surgery or
may develop prior to noticeable vision loss, with“vitrectomy”. It involves removing
late sudden onset of vision loss with hemorrhagethe cloudy vitreous and replacing it with a salt
or retinal detachment.solution. Because the vitreous is mostly water,
With the symptoms of proliferative retinopathy, ifyou will notice no change between the salt
bleeding occurs at first, you will see a few speckssolution and the normal vitreous. Although laser
of blood, or spots, "floating" in your vision. If spotssurgery and vitrectomy are very successful, they
occur, see your eye care professional as soon asdo not cure diabetic retinopathy. Once you have
possible. You may need treatment before moreproliferative retinopathy, you will always be at risk
serious bleeding occurs. Hemorrhages tend tofor new bleeding. This means you may need
happen more than once, often during sleep.treatment more than once to protect your sight.
Sometimes, without treatment, the spots clear,Prevention
and you will see better. However, bleeding canThere are ways to prevent or lessen the risk of
reoccur and cause severely blurred vision. Youeye damage caused by diabetes.
need to be examined by your eye careThe Diabetes Control and Complications Trial
professional at the first sign of blurred vision,proved that careful control of blood glucose levels
before more bleeding occurs.might prevent the development of diabetic
If left untreated, proliferative retinopathy canretinopathy.
cause severe vision loss and even blindness. Also,Regular eye examinations are especially important
the earlier you receive treatment, the more likelyfor children who have had diabetes for 5 years or
treatment will be effectivelonger, for adults at the time of diagnosis, for
Cause & Risk of vision damagethose who have difficulty controlling the level of
Approximately 40 percent of all people withsugar in their blood, and for diabetic women who
diabetes have at least mild diabetic retinopathy,are considering becoming pregnant. All of these
which affects both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.people are at increased risk for diabetes-related
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindnesseye problems. To protect your vision get a
and tends to be particularly severe in Type-1comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a
diabetes.year and remember that damage to the vision
In general, the longer one has had diabetes, thecan occur without symptoms.
greater one`s chances of developing diabeticFuture Risk
retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy generally takesIn a recent Washington Post article entitled
at least eight years to develop in juvenile onset“Diabetic Eye Disease Rates Soaring”,
diabetes, but may be present at the time adultthe story quotes a study showing the rates for
onset diabetes is first diagnosed. High bloodcases of diabetic retinopathy soaring from 5.5
pressure and high cholesterol in the blood aremillion to nearly 16 million cases by the year 2050.
additional risk factors that your doctor willThe study gave the following breakdown;
address.-The number of cases of vision threatening
Diagnosisdiabetic retinopathy will increase from 1.2 million to
Because diabetic retinopathy can begin and get a3.4 million.
foothold before it causes symptoms, all patients-Among Americans 65 and older, the number of
with diabetes should have an eye examinationcases of diabetic retinopathy will rise from 2.5
with pupils dilated at least once a year. Often yourmillion to 9.9 million, and the number of cases of
doctor will take photographs of your retinas. Avision threatening diabetic retinopathy will increase
dye, called fluorescein, may be injected in thefrom 500,000 to 1.9 million.
blood stream to show further details of the-Cataract cases among whites and blacks age 40
circulation in the retina. This is called fluoresceinor older with diabetes will increase 235 percent.
angiography.Cataract cases among people age 75 and older
Diabetic retinopathy has four stages:with diabetes will increase 637 percent for black
1. Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy. At this earliestwomen and 677 percent for black men. Glaucoma
stage, micro aneurysms occur. They are smallcases among Hispanics age 65 and older with
areas of balloon-like swelling in the retina`s tinydiabetes will increase 12-fold.
blood vessels.Regular eye exams, preventive measures such as
2. Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy. As thea healthy diet and controlled blood glucose,
disease progresses, some blood vessels thateducation (understanding how your diabetes
nourish the retina are blocked.affects your vision) may help keep you from
3. Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy. Manybeing one of those statistics.