Retina

Diabetic Services

Approximately 16 million people in the United States have diabetes and one-third of them do not know it. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than people without diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults. Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual, dilated eye exams, people with diabetes can preserve their sight.

Diabetic Eye Disease is a group of eye problems that affects those with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma. The most common of these is diabetic retinopathy, which affects 5.3 million Americans over the age of 18.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a potentially vision threatening condition in which the blood vessels inside the retina become damaged from the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes. These damaged vessels can then leak, bleed or scar and cause retinal detachment, hemorrhaging or macular edema, conditions than can damage vision.

More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not receive the recommended vision care and may be at risk for blindness. Because there are often no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, vision may not be affected until the disease becomes severe.

Once diagnosed with diabetes, schedule a complete dilated eye examination with your doctor at least once a year. Make an appointment promptly if you experience blurred vision and floaters that:

• Affect only one eye
• Last more than a few days
• Are not associated with a change in blood sugar

In advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy, laser treatment has been shown to reduce the loss of vision. The surgery does not cure diabetic retinopathy, nor does it prevent future vision loss, especially diabetes or blood pressure is not well controlled.

Diabetes can also affect your vision by causing cataracts and glaucoma. If you have diabetes, you may get cataracts at a younger age and your chances of developing glaucoma are doubled.

Early diagnosis of diabetes and effective control of blood sugar and hypertension through diet, exercise and medication can help to reduce your risk of developing eye diseases associated with diabetes.

Detached and Torn Retina

What is a retinal detachment?

A retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled away from its normal position. The retina does not work when it is detached. Vision is blurred, like a camera picture would be blurry of the film were loose inside the camera.

A retinal detachment is a very serious problem that almost always causes blindness unless it is treated.

What causes retinal detachment?

The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the middle of the eye. As we get older, the vitreous may pull away from its attachment to the retina at the back of the eye.

Usually the vitreous separates from the retina without causing problems. But sometimes the vitreous pulls hard enough to tear the retina in one or more places. Fluid may pass through the retinal tear, lifting the retina off the back of the eye, like wallpaper can peel off a wall.

Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Your vision becomes blurry
• The number of flashers or floater increase
• Your vision changes after a sharp blow to the eye

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people fifty years of age and older. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic eye disease that occurs when tissue in the macula, the part of your retina that is responsible for central, detailed vision, deteriorates. Central vision becomes limited; however, side vision remains clear. There are two types of Macular Degeneration, “dry” and “wet”.

Dry is the most common type of Macular Degeneration. In the early stages, changes in vision may be hard to notice. Over time, your central vision slowly worsens. You may notice wavy lines and blank spots in the center of your vision. Colors may look dim. There is no way to restore vision lost from dry macular degeneration; however, it should be monitored closely because it can turn into wet macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is less common but more serious. Vision loss is quick and severe. You may suddenly notice dark spots, blank spots, wavy lines and dim colors in the center of your vision. If wet macular is caught early, laser treatment may help slow further vision loss.

A healthy macula is necessary for normal central vision acuity.

Early detection and treatment may help reduce the severity of vision loss; therefore, every person over the age of fifty should have an annual eye examination, especially those who have a family history of macular degeneration.