More than 38 million Americans have some type of diabetes, a group of diseases that cause high blood sugar and increase the risk of other health problems. While diabetes is often associated with heart disease and nerve damage (neuropathy), it can also lead to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and vision loss.
At Orange County Cataract and Glaucoma in Santa Ana, California, Anand Bhatt, MD, and our team regularly perform diabetic eye screening exams and help patients manage diabetic retinopathy and other related issues. Here, we explain how diabetes impacts eye health, discuss the stages of diabetic retinopathy, and what to expect during a diabetic eye screening.
Diabetes is an umbrella term for several chronic diseases that cause high blood sugar. Blood sugar is essential for survival because your cells use it for energy and other vital functions. But if your cells don’t use it properly, sugar can build up in your bloodstream and increase the risk of vision problems.
High blood sugar levels damage blood vessels throughout your body, including those in the back of the eyes near the retina. The retina is a tissue layer that converts light into electrical signals your brain interprets as vision. If diabetes damages it, it can result in blurry or distorted vision or vision loss over time. Diabetes also increases the risk of other eye problems, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular edema.
Research suggests that about 26.4% of people with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy. This number is significant, but the condition often develops slowly, over months or years. That means if you’re diagnosed, steps can be taken to slow its progression.
There are four distinct stages of diabetic retinopathy:
This early stage typically doesn’t present obvious symptoms. It causes small changes to the blood vessels at the back of the eye, called microaneurysms, that affect blood flow.
During this stage, some of the blood vessels at the back of the eye become blocked, cutting off oxygen and other vital nutrients. Symptoms are still subtle, but you might begin noticing vision changes.
This stage is characterized by even more blood vessel blockage, depriving the retina of oxygen. Symptoms may include blurred vision, floaters, and dark spots.
This advanced stage triggers the growth of abnormal blood vessels that can bleed, damaging the retina and forming scar tissue. This increases the risk of retinal detachment and blindness.
Macular edema, a buildup of fluid in the center of the retina, can occur at any stage, further increasing the risk of vision problems. Although there’s no cure for diabetic retinopathy, keeping your blood sugar within the optimal range can help prevent progression.
Diabetic eye screening is a quick, outpatient procedure that typically takes an hour or less.
During the exam, we dilate your pupils and use special lenses to examine your retina and other structures at the back of your eye. We also perform a visual acuity test and optical coherence tomography (OCT), a type of advanced imaging that lets us look for subtle changes to the blood vessels at the back of your eyes.
It’s important to schedule eye exams annually. While everyone benefits from regular checkups, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing eye problems that can take years to develop. Early detection can prevent changes from worsening and help keep your vision sharp for years to come.
Learning you have diabetes can be worrisome, but it doesn’t have to affect your vision. A combination of routine eye exams and blood sugar management can help protect your eyes and health.
Schedule a consultation today by calling our office at 714-541-4185 or using the online booking feature.
