Diabetic Eye Disease services offered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Up to 9% of diabetic adults ages 45 and older have diabetic eye disease. Fortunately, preventive screenings and healthy lifestyle changes can prevent these conditions from getting worse and preserve your vision. At Crystal Vision Optometry, experienced optometrist Leena Adhikari, OD, provides diagnosis and treatment of diabetic eye disease with advanced technology. To make an appointment, call the office in Rancho Cucamonga, California, or book online today.
What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to eye problems that affect people with diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. If your blood sugar levels remain high for extended periods, you’re more likely to experience poor vision and even blindness.
Diabetic eye disease can’t be cured, but you can reduce your risk of complications by living a healthy lifestyle and visiting the eye doctor regularly.
What are common types of diabetic eye disease?
Crystal Vision Optometry diagnoses and treats various kinds of diabetic eye disease, including:
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy damages your retina –– the tissue at the back of the eye that interprets light and turns it into signals. As the disease progresses, it causes blood vessels near your retina to bulge, weaken, and leak. Over time, these changes result in vision loss.
Diabetic macular edema
Macular edema occurs when the macula –– a part of your retina –– becomes swollen due to high blood sugar. As the swelling worsens, it causes blurry vision and ultimately blindness.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that damages your optic nerve, a group of nerves that connect your eyes to your brain. If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to develop glaucoma compared to the general population.
Cataracts
Cataracts cause the lenses in your eyes to become cloudy. Often, cataracts form after the age of 65, but if you have diabetes, you might experience them earlier.
How is diabetic eye disease diagnosed?
Crystal Vision Optometry diagnoses diabetic eye disease during an in-office visit.
Your provider reviews your medical records and asks about your general health, including when you were diagnosed with diabetes and the type of diabetes you have. Next, they use special eyedrops to perform a fundus examination.
During a fundus exam, your provider dilates your pupils. That makes it easier to examine your retina and the other components at the back of your eye. Your provider also orders diagnostic tests, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging procedure that captures detailed photos of your retina.
How is diabetic eye disease treated?
Treatment of diabetic eye disease depends on several factors, including your age and the severity of your symptoms. Crystal Vision Optometry might recommend:
- Checking your blood sugar daily
- Getting a diabetic eye exam once a year
- Quitting smoking
- Prescription medication
- Laser treatment
- Vitrectomy (surgery to remove vitreous gel in the center of your eye)
- Cataract lens surgery
It’s also essential to manage your diabetes. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight.
To learn more about the treatment options for diabetic eye disease, make an appointment at Crystal Vision Optometry by calling the office or booking online today.