Retinal Problems With Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn't produce enough insulin, a necessary hormone for sugar absorption. Unregulated diabetes can lead to other health concerns, including heart, kidney and eye problems. Eye problems develop slowly, and affect up to 80 percent of all people who have had diabetes for 15 years or more. According to Islets of Hope, the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop a vision problem.

Cause

• When you have diabetes, your body cannot absorb the sugar in your blood effectively. This causes the sugar to build up, and can raise your blood pressure. High blood sugar levels and high blood pressure for a long time can injure the tiny blood vessels in your retinas. These blood vessels may swell, weaken and become clogged. Over time, newer but weaker blood vessels grow, which can break easily and leak blood into your eye, obscuring your vision.

Symptoms

• Diabetic retinopathy, the umbrella term used to cover all problems having to do with the retina, seldom exhibits early warning signs. Early in the condition, occasional blurriness or spots may occur, which often fade after a few hours. As time goes on, these occurrences happen more often, with longer lasting effects. Blurry or double vision, dark floating spots and pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes are signs that a larger problem may be lurking.

Risk Factors

• Although there are three types of diabetes--Type 1, Type 2 and gestational--no one type is more at risk than the other two for eye problems. Anyone with diabetes can develop an ocular problem. Typically, uncontrolled blood sugar levels tend to be a triggering factor, as this can raise your blood pressure, affecting your heart and eyes. Pregnant women with diabetes are also at a higher risk.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose a retinal problem, see your eye care professional. The doctor will perform tests in order to ascertain how well you can see, as well as examine the retina itself. He will put drops into your eyes to dilate the pupil so he can see more of the retina to look for signs of diabetic retinopathy. Leaking blood vessels, retinal swelling and damaged nerve tissue are all early signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment

• To reduce vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, there are two treatments available--laser surgery and vitrectomy. Laser surgery is used to destroy the abnormal blood vessels forming at the back of the eye. A vitrectomy is performed when a lot of blood has pooled into the eye, usually from a hemorrhage. Early treatment is important, as waiting too long could mean that the retina is too severely damaged to correct.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent diabetic retinopathy from becoming too severe, it's important to catch it early enough. Have routine eye exams in which your eyes are dilated and examined for any early signs. Regular eye exams are important, even if your vision seems fine. Keep careful control of your blood sugar levels and blood pressure. If you are pregnant and have diabetes, see an eye doctor in your first trimester.