How is diabetes related to eye health?
Well, when someone is diabetic there are always chances for diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina – the light-sensing membrane that lines the back of the eye.
These damaged blood vessels may leak fluid or blood and develop fragile new vessels and scar tissue. The result is blurry, distorted vision and sometimes even blindness.
If you are diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, our ophthalmologists will consider your age, medical history, lifestyle and the degree of damage to the retina before recommending a treatment.
In many cases, treatment is not necessary, but you will need to continue having regular exams.
In other cases, our experts may recommend laser treatment (photocoagulation), Anti-VEGF injections (Eylea, Lucentis, Avsastin, etc.) and even retinal surgery for the most severe cases.
The surgical procedure used to treat diabetic retinopathy in its advanced stages is called a vitrectomy.
During this procedure, our doctors will use a high-powered microscope and delicate surgical instruments to remove the blood-filled vitreous and replace it with a clear solution.
Laser treatment and removal of scar tissue may also be necessary. General or local anesthesia may be used.
