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Diabetes and your eyes
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Routine eye exams are a vital part of preventing vision loss from diabetes. Diabetics under the age of 30 should have annual exams starting
no later than five years after diabetes is diagnosed. Yearly eye exams are recommended for diabetics over the age of 30. If there is evidence of damage to your eye, however, more frequent exams may be necessary. Pregnant women should see their eye doctors at least once during the first three months of pregnancy.
At the Retina Health Center, specialized equip-ment is used to examine your eyes.
If there is evidence of diabetic retinopathy,
a fluorescein angiogram may be required. During this test, a fluorescent dye is injected into the bloodstream, and photographs of the retina’s blood vessel system are taken. These are used to evaluate the condition of the vessels and serve as a "road map" for laser treatment when laser treatment is needed.
Another test that is frequently used is Ocular Coherence tomography (OCT), which creates a cross sectional image of your retina. This test will determine if there is swelling in your rentina that may benefit from treatment.
EVALUATION AND TREATMENT:
Laser Surgery
When diabetic retinopathy is detected early, in-office laser treatment typically is used to arrest damage. Laser seal and reduce leaking in blood vessels in patients with diabetic macular edema. Laser treatment is also used to halt abnormal blood vessel growth for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Vitrectomy
In severe cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, bleeding occurs in the vitreous, the gel-like substance in the center of the eye. In some instances it clears naturally and no further treatment is necessary. However, if it does not clear, a vitrectomy – surgical removal of the cloudy material – may be advised.
Other treatments
In addition to laser surgery and vitrectomy surgery, medications such as Avastin and/or Triamcinolone have been use in an off label fashion to treat advanced diabetic retinopathy, and can restore vision in some people. If it looks like these medications will help you, your doctor will discus them further with you.
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The contents and information on the Retina Health Center Web site are for your informational use only. Our site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider for any questions you may have regarding any medical condition. Never disregard, or delay seeking advice from a qualified health professional solely because of something you read on this, or any other, Web site.
