Diabetes and Eye Disease Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of their disease. Most of these eye conditions have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease and severe damage is done to the eyes before any symptoms are present. For this reason it is extremely important that people with diabetes receive eye examinations at least once a year to prevent vision loss. Eyes will need to be dilated to enlarge the pupils, which allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of the eye. Diabetic eye diseases include: Diabetic Retinopathy – This is the most common complication of diabetes and involves damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Vessels may swell and leak fluid or abnormal new blood vessels may form leading to possible retina detachment. Retinopathy may lead to vision loss of blindness. Good control of blood sugar can slow the onset and progression of the disease. Cataracts – This is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Surgery is usually needed to correct the situation. Glaucoma – This eye disease involves the dying off of the optic nerve. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to develop glaucoma as other adults. As with diabetic retinopathy, the longer you have diabetes the greater the risk of developing glaucoma. The best way to protect your vision from the ravages of diabetes is to have regular dilating eye exams at least once a year. For more information please click on one of the following link shown below: National Eye Institute: www.nei.nih.gov EyeMDLink.com: www.eyemdlink.com Glaucoma This disorder can be associated with pressure in the eye and is characterized by damage to the optic nerve, which results in vision loss and subsequent blindness if left untreated. Peripheral loss of vision is first followed by complete blindness. This disease is completely without symptoms until loss of vision starts to occur. Glaucoma is actually a collection of diseases but they all result in damage to the optic nerve. Treatment is effective if the disease is detected early. Diagnosis is made by an eye examination. For more information click on the link shown below: Glaucoma Research Foundation: www.glaucoma.org Cataracts Cataracts result in a cloudiness or opacity in the lens of the eye and are the leading cause of blindness today. Risk factors are aging, exposure to bright sunlight, smoking, poor nutrition, eye trauma or certain medications such as steroids. The resultant blurred vision interferes with driving and reading. People often complain of halos or dimness of color vision. For more information click on the link shown below: American Optometric Association: www.aoa.org National Eye Institute: www.nei.nih.gov Prevent Blindness.org: www.preventblindness.org Macular Degeneration This is a progressive disease that attacks the macula of the eye. The macula is a very small, approximately one eighth inch in diameter, area located in the center of the retina. The macula is where the rods and cones, responsible for color reception, are found. Sharp, central or “straight ahead” vision originates in the macula. This is a highly vascularized area of the eye and the degenerative process can involve the abnormal growth of new blood vessels. When degeneration begins to occur the patient may notice straight lines appear wavy or broken. Others symptoms may include fuzzy or dimmed vision when looking directly at an object or a black area in the center of the vision field. In time, the vision may be reduced to the point that only peripheral vision remains. Color perception is also affected due to the involvement of the rods and cones. Macular degeneration can be devastating in that the type of vision affected is what is needed for routine tasks such as driving, reading, facial recognition and a host of other things we take for granted in our everyday life. Complete blindness rarely occurs. The fastest growing form of the disease is age related macular degeneration of AMD, which usually affects people over the age of 55 or 60. While no cure exists for the disease there are things you can do to lessen the impact on your life. Proper lighting and the correct magnifying devices can help. Talk to your eye care professional about what is right for you. There are some known risk factors for macular degeneration. Patients with a family history of the disease should be examined regularly by an eye care professional, as there is a genetic component to the disease. Lifestyle can also have an effect. Smoking is a known risk factor as is high blood pressure. Exposure to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet radiation is very harmful. People need to remember to use hats, or sunglasses, even on cloudy days to protect their eyes. Diet and exercise can play a role in developing the disease as well. A heart healthy diet: low fat with plenty of fruits and vegetables along with regular cardiovascular exercise is recommended for preventing and treating the disease. Early detection is very important and is yet another reason for yearly routine exams. If you experience any of the symptoms of this debilitating eye disease see your eye care professional immediately. For more information on Macular Degeneration click on the link shown below: The Macular Degeneration Partnership: www.amd.org Computer Vision Syndrome Computers are an important part of today’s society but improper use can result in eye problems. Common complaints made by people with this disorder are: Eye fatigue Headaches Blurred vision Double vision Eye irritation Flickering sensation Slow refocusing To avoid eye problems there are some actions you can take: The appropriate distance between the viewer’s eyes and the screen should be 12 to 20 inches. The center of the monitor should be 20 degrees below the person’s straight ahead viewing. Reference materials should be placed as close to the monitor screen as possible. Brightness and contrast of the monitor should be adjusted to a comfortable level. The use of anti-reflective coated lenses can minimize reflected glare on monitor screens and from overhead lights. Take frequent breaks and focus your eyes on a distant point to ease eyestrain. Have regular eye exams. Or as needed For more information click on the link shown below: Dr. Ergo.com: www.drergo.com Presbyopia Presbyopia, while not strictly a disease, is a progressive condition associated with the aging process. For people in their 40’s or 50’s the increasing difficulty reading small print or the time on a digital clock viewed from a distance, is often the first sign of aging. By the age of 55 nearly everyone has some degree of presbyopia, even those with otherwise perfect eyesight. This affliction is not sight-threatening but should be properly diagnosed and treated by an eye care professional. Over the counter reading glasses are not always the best option. Too high of a magnification can lead to your eyes becoming dependant on the magnification more quickly – they become “lazy”. Bifocal contact lenses are now available as well. For more information click on the link shown below: Vision Council of America: www.checkyearly.com