This can damage vision or cause blindness. Your eye doctor can identify the early signs of diabetic retinopathy and help you slow the progression of the disease to protect your eyesight. 

Keep reading to learn more about diabetic retinopathy and how it relates to blood sugar levels!

What is Diabetic Retinopathy? 

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes affects blood vessels in the eyes. Increased blood sugar can cause blockages in the tiny blood vessels in the retina. 

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Damage to the blood vessels can cause vision loss or blindness. 

There are two stages to diabetic retinopathy.

Nonproliferative Retinopathy

In the early stage of the disease, blood vessels swell and leak. This can lead to macular edema or swelling of the retina. 

It can also cause early changes to the nerve cells in the retina. Early-stage retinopathy can be treated. 

Proliferative Retinopathy

In the more advanced stage of the disease, abnormal new blood vessels develop on the surface of the retina. These vessels can break, causing bleeding into the vitreous, which is the clear, watery gel that fills the eye. 

This can also cause scarring that may lead to a detached retina or damage to the optic nerve. This stage of diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness without treatment.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy? 

Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Even people with well-managed blood sugar may be at risk. 

There are health factors that can increase the risk of developing the condition, including: 

• Having diabetes for a long time
• Poorly controlled blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Pregnancy
• Use of tobacco

How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treated? 

Early diabetic retinopathy may not require treatment. You can work with your eye doctor and endocrinologist to manage your diabetes and slow the progression of the disease. 

If you have advanced diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor will suggest the best course of treatment for your situation. Treatment options include:

Laser Surgery

Surgery is an effective way to treat proliferative retinopathy. The procedure involves shrinking abnormal blood vessels or sealing vessels that are leaking. 

Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is a procedure to remove the jelly-like substance or vitreous in the center of the eye. This procedure can be used to treat diabetic retinopathy if the vitreous gel inside the eye is exerting traction and tugging on the delicate retinal tissue. 

By removing this tractional vitreous gel and replacing it with a clear solution, a vitrectomy releases pulling on the retina. This prevents further retinal detachments or tears linked to diabetic retinopathy.

Injections

There are several medications that can be injected into the eye to slow the growth of the abnormal vessels in the retina. These drugs treat the swelling in the eye and reduce the risk of vision loss. 

What Are the Common Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?

In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you may not have symptoms. Your eye doctor can identify early signs of diabetic retinopathy during a routine eye exam before you notice changes to your vision. 

With more advanced diabetic retinopathy, you may develop vision changes such as:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Dark spots or floaters
• Pain or pressure in one or both eyes 
• Rings, flashing lights, or blank spots in your field of vision

Eye exams are one of the best ways to manage the risk of diabetic retinopathy, even if you have well-controlled blood sugar. Your eye doctor can monitor for signs of the condition and help you reduce the risk of advanced disease. 

Is it time for you to have an eye exam? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

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If you have diabetes, it’s important to educate yourself about the risks associated with your vision. Keep reading to learn three things to know about diabetic retinopathy!

1. Diabetic Retinopathy Can Cause Vision Loss if Left Untreated

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that affects the retina. The retina, located at the back of the eye, is a light-sensitive tissue. 

When light reaches the retina, it initiates a series of signals that are then transmitted to the brain, where they are transformed into visual images.

Over time, high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, causing blockages and cutting off the blood supply.  

Blockages in the blood vessels and reduced blood flow to the retina can be a significant issue. They can weaken the walls of the blood vessels and cause new, abnormal, weak blood vessels to grow.

Tiny bulges form, sometimes leaking fluid and blood into the retina. This blurs and distorts the light signals sent to the brain. 

Spots or dark strings in your vision, blurred or fluctuating vision, and dark or missing spots are all symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Untreated, these conditions can affect your vision, leading to loss of sight.

2. Diabetic Retinopathy is More Likely to Occur in People With Uncontrolled Blood Sugar

In later stage diabetic retinopathy, new abnormal blood vessels grow to compensate for the damaged blood vessels in the retina. However, these are more likely to leak into the vitreous, the clear, jellylike substance that fills the eye.

Over time, scar tissue forms, which pulls on the retina and can lead to retinal detachment. In some cases, the scar tissue can grow over the drainage channels of the eye. 

This can prevent the normal flow of fluid out of the eye and cause your eye pressure to rise. If the pressure is not reduced, this will eventually damage the optic nerve and affect your vision.

Treatments exist to minimize the impact of diabetic retinopathy, but controlling blood sugar is an essential first step. Proper blood sugar management can slow the progression of the disease.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy Often Requires Treatment

If the eye condition has worsened to the point where you need treatment, various options are available. 

Eye Injections

Anti-VEGF medications can be injected into the vitreous of the eye. This can help prevent the growth of new blood vessels. 

Topical anesthesia is used for these injections, which helps you stay comfortable. You will need to have regular injections to ensure that the eye condition stays under control.

Photocoagulation

Leakage of blood and fluid in the eye can be stopped or slowed by a laser treatment known as photocoagulation or focal laser treatment. The laser is applied to shrink and scar the abnormal blood vessels. 

It can be done during an office visit or as an eye clinic procedure. Blurry vision for a day or two after the laser surgery is common.

While treatments are possible, it’s best to manage diabetes and watch blood sugar levels carefully so these more invasive procedures aren’t required. 

Are you experiencing symptoms of diabetic retinopathy? Schedule an appointment at Eye Health Northwest in Happy Valley, OR, today!

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One complication of uncontrolled diabetes is diabetic eye disease, which can lead to vision loss. One of the early warning signs of diabetic eye disease is blurry vision. 

To help educate all Americans about the link between diabetes and eye disease, the American Academy of Ophthalmology observes Diabetic Eye Awareness Month in November. 

Keep reading for the facts you need during Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month!

Blurry Vision is an Early Symptom of Diabetic Eye Disease

One reason why blurry vision can be a symptom of undiagnosed diabetes has to do with rapid fluctuations in blood sugar. If your blood sugar levels change quickly, it can affect the shape of your eye’s natural lens and cause blurry vision. 

Your vision will typically go back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. If you notice this symptom, mention it to your eye doctor immediately or primary care doctor so you can be tested.

Blurry vision in those with diabetes can stem from more than just fluctuating vision. There are a few eye conditions that can develop due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels that can cause blurry vision, among other symptoms.

For this reason, if you have diabetes, it is essential to visit your eye doctor routinely to ensure you are not at risk for vision loss due to diabetic eye disease. 

Most Common Eye Conditions Related to Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to develop blinding eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, glaucoma, and cataracts.

Diabetic Retinopathy 

Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the retina. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause the blood vessels in the retina to swell, leak or close off completely. 

When this happens, abnormal new blood vessels may grow on the surface of the retina, which can cause numerous other issues inside the eyes.

Diabetic Macular Edema 

Diabetic macular edema occurs due to fluid buildup on the retina. This causes swelling and blurry central vision and can lead to permanent vision loss.

Cataracts 

Cataracts can develop when blood sugar is not well-controlled. These occur when the natural lens of the eye begins to cloud. 

Typically, cataracts are associated with aging. However, cataract growth can be accelerated by diabetes. The only solution to cataracts is cataract surgery. 

Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is a group of several eye conditions that cause damage to your eye’s optic nerve. Often, this damage is caused by consistently high eye pressure. Damage to the optic nerve leads to vision loss. 

Glaucoma can occur in those with diabetes when abnormal blood vessels grow into the natural drainage structures of the eye and prevent fluid from exiting the eye, thus increasing eye pressure.

Proactive Steps for Vision Protection

There’s plenty you can do to safeguard your vision if you have diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and eating a balanced diet can regulate your blood sugar. 

If you see any changes in your vision, get in touch with your eye doctor right away so you can obtain an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Early intervention is the best way to preserve your sight. 

Do you want to learn more about diabetic eye disease? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!

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If you have diabetes, it is crucial to take care of your eye health. This means getting regular eye exams to track and catch changes to your vision or eye health early.

One of the conditions that can develop if you have diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. Keep reading to learn more about how you can control diabetic retinopathy. 

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

 Diabetic retinopathy or DR is the most common diabetic eye disease. It impacts the eye’s retina and the small blood vessels that carry fluid and nutrients to it.

The retina is a thin sheet of light-sensitive tissue in the back of your eye. It senses and reacts to light and sends that light down your optic nerve to your brain using nerve impulses.

DR can cause the blood vessels in the retina to leak blood or eye fluid. It can also cause fragile blood vessels and scar tissue to develop on your retina.

For people with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is the number one cause of vision loss. One of the most significant problems diabetics experience is managing blood sugar levels.

Having high blood sugar levels is incredibly damaging to your body. It is what causes damage to the small blood vessels in your retina. 

What Can You Do to Control Diabetic Retinopathy?

There is no cure for DR, just as there is no cure for diabetes. But, you can manage it, so it does not take your eyesight.

By following the below recommendations, you give yourself a chance to keep your sight.

Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels

Keeping blood glucose low is critical for keeping your body healthy. The easiest way to keep your blood sugar low is to eat less sugar.

Also, avoid foods with simple carbohydrates and get regular exercise. Finally, tracking your blood sugar level helps you control it.

Manage Your General Health

One of the most important things to do for diabetes is managing your overall health. This includes a healthy diet and exercise tailored to your level of fitness.

It also includes:

• Taking any prescribed medications like insulin
• Managing other health conditions
• Keeping blood pressure at healthy levels
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing bad cholesterol levels 

You can help your body manage diabetes by making it do less work to keep you healthy. Controlling the various conditions and diseases you may have goes a long way for general health.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Cooking meals yourself with fresh ingredients, including fresh vegetables, is beneficial. Also, avoid foods with lots of sugar and carbohydrates and fried foods.

These foods can spike your blood sugar and exacerbate inflammation. Diet is one of the simplest ways to take control of your health.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is terrible for you in all ways. If you have diabetes and smoke, it increases your chances of developing other diseases.

One of the simplest ways to remain healthy is to stop smoking. If you smoke, cataracts, glaucoma, as well as diabetic retinopathy are more likely.

Get Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

Getting annual or more frequent eye exams is vital for keeping your eyes healthy. They help your eye doctor diagnose and treat conditions early.

Early treatment is key to preventing vision loss. Stick to the schedule your eye doctor recommends, so your eyes can stay healthy.

Do you need a comprehensive eye exam? Getting frequent eye exams is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and detect any changes early.

Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR. Diabetes is a severe disease, don’t let it take your eyesight!

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November is diabetic eye disease awareness month. The goal of this month is to encourage people to get treatment for eye conditions related to diabetes.

It is critical to keep your diabetes under control. This helps the rest of your body remain healthy. Keep reading to learn how you can be proactive during diabetic eye disease awareness month.

Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyes?

In adults, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the country. Everyone that has diabetes is at risk for vision loss due to a diabetic eye condition.

African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos, with diabetes are at a higher risk for these conditions. If you have diabetes, one of the best things you can do is have healthy habits to manage your condition.

Being overweight and having high blood sugar levels can lead to diabetic eye conditions. Some of these conditions include:

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is when the blood vessels in your retina get damaged. DR is the most common diabetes-related eye disease and the leading cause of blindness. 

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the proteins in your eye’s natural lens break down. As they break down, they clump together and cause your lens to become cloudy. 

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is when the pressure in your eye, called IOP, increases. High IOP can cause optic nerve damage, which leads to vision loss. 

Tips for Preventing Vision Loss

You can prevent vision loss from diabetes. But it takes some effort on your part.

Be sure you are always proactive in protecting your eyes from diabetes. Otherwise, you risk losing your eyesight.

Maintain Your Blood Sugar Levels

Keeping your blood sugar low is key to keeping your body and eyes healthy. You can keep your blood sugar low by limiting your carbohydrate and sugar intake.

Also, getting regular exercise and checking your blood sugar levels frequently helps. Working with your doctors to maintain your blood sugar levels is essential. Also, be sure to take insulin and other medicines as prescribed. 

Have a Healthy Diet

A healthy, intentional diet is the most straightforward defense against diabetes-related eye diseases. Cooking your meals at home with fresh ingredients is helpful.

Eating vegetables and avoiding large quantities of red meat are also healthy habits. And, you should skip fried foods, sugary drinks, and refined carbohydrates. 

Manage Your Blood Pressure

Managing your blood pressure can help keep your eyes safe from diabetic retinopathy.

Stop Smoking

Smoking tobacco increases the probability that you will develop diabetes-related eye conditions. One of the best ways to stay healthy, in general, is to quit smoking.

Smoking with diabetes puts you at an increased risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy at an early age. 

Get Regular Comprehensive Eye Exams

Having annual or more frequent eye exams is essential for keeping your eyes healthy. Diagnosing conditions early and receiving proper treatment is key to preventing vision loss.

You should go to your eye doctor as often as they recommend to stay healthy. Also, if you start noticing any problems with your vision, be proactive and get your eyes examined quickly. 

Following all these tips will keep your eyes as healthy as possible. Getting regular eye exams is the best way to keep your eyes healthy when you have diabetes.

Do you need to book a comprehensive eye exam? Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, now to keep your eyes healthy!

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The goal of this month is to educate people about diabetic eye diseases, diabetes, and to encourage people to get treatment for any eye conditions tied to diabetes. Managing your diabetes is key to keeping healthy. 

In adults, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness from conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. People with diabetes have a higher chance of experiencing vision loss or going blind due to a diabetic eye condition. 

If you’re an African American, Native American, or Latino with diabetes, you have a higher risk of developing diabetic eye conditions. Minorities often do not have access to proper medical care or may not be as aware of conditions as they need to be. 

If you have diabetes, keeping your eyes healthy and preventing vision loss should be a top priority. Diabetics need to be proactive when it comes to protecting their vision. 

The most important thing you can do is have regular eye exams. Depending on what your ophthalmologist recommends, you should have eye exams at least once a year. 

Your eye doctor may recommend you come in more often. If you have existing eye conditions and diabetes, frequent eye exams become even more important. 

What are Tips for Preventing Vision Loss?

For diabetics, developing other vision conditions is something that may happen over time. But you’ll still want to do your best to prevent vision loss as much as possible. Try to follow these tips:  

Manage Your Blood Sugar Levels

If you want to keep your vision, you must keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. You can maintain your blood sugar levels by doing a few things. This includes:

• Eating minimal sugar and simple carbohydrates
• Exercising regularly
• Frequently checking your blood sugar levels

You’ll need to continue working with your doctors to maintain your blood sugar levels. You may even want to work with a nutritionist. Don’t forget to take insulin and other medications as prescribed. 

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Cooking your meals yourself with fresh ingredients, including fresh vegetables, is beneficial. Don’t eat a lot of foods like red meat, fried foods, sugary drinks, or things that contain refined carbohydrates.

Monitor Your Blood Pressure

Maintaining your blood pressure can help prevent the development of conditions like diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. 

Get Frequent Comprehensive Eye Exams

Having annual or more frequent eye exams is vital for keeping your eyes healthy. These help your doctor diagnose conditions early and allow you to receive proper treatment early on. 

This is key to preventing vision loss. Stick to the schedule your eye doctor recommends, so your eyes can stay healthy.

Quit Smoking

If you are diabetic and smoke, this increases the probability that you will develop eye conditions tied to your diabetes. One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to quit smoking. 

If you smoke and have diabetes, you’re much more likely to develop cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy much earlier than people that are healthier.

Are you ready to schedule a comprehensive eye exam? Getting regular eye exams is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and detect any changes early on. 
Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now to see one of our great eye doctors!

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November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. The goal of the month is to bring awareness to diabetes and how it affects your eyes. Let’s take a look at different eye conditions related to being diabetic and ways to prevent diabetes. 

Eye Conditions

Individuals who are diabetic are more likely to develop eye conditions that cause blindness. Some of these conditions include:

Glaucoma

Individuals with diabetes are two times more likely to develop glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when eye pressure builds up in your eye and damages the optic nerve. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. 

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common condition for older adults, but diabetes can make adults develop it at a younger age. Spikes in blood sugar levels can make cataracts develop between ages 20 – 70. Managing blood sugar levels helps prevent cataracts from developing early on. 

Diabetic Retinopathy

This is the most common diabetic eye disease. This disease impacts the eye’s retina and small blood vessels. For individuals with diabetes, this is the number one cause of vision loss. 

One of the biggest problems diabetics experience is managing their blood sugar levels. Having high blood sugar levels causes damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. 

Managing your diabetes is the best way to keep your eyes healthy. 

Ways to Prevent Diabetes

There are ways for individuals to prevent diabetes from developing. Some of these ways include:

Eating Healthy

This is one of the best ways to keep your eyes healthy. Eating a balanced diet is the best way to stay healthy. 

Eating foods rich in fiber can help keep your blood sugar levels under control. Whole grains have been connected to maintaining blood sugar levels as well.

Regular Exercise

Being physically active has so many benefits. It can help lower blood sugar levels, lose weight, and increase sensitivity to insulin. This helps you manage your blood sugar levels. 

Aerobic and resistance training are connected to managing diabetes. You should exercise a minimum of three times per week for at least thirty minutes.  

Having Regular Eye Exams

Going to the eye doctor as often as recommended is important for keeping your eyes healthy when you have diabetes. Eye conditions connected to diabetes can be managed, prevented or detected early on by going to the eye doctor regularly. 

Not Becoming Obese or Overweight

Having diabetes can make it difficult to lose weight. You should work your hardest to prevent yourself from becoming obese or overweight. 

If you are overweight, you should work on losing the weight to keep yourself healthy.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. Not all adults with diabetes are at risk for blindness or vision loss. 

Minorities or ethnicities are less educated about the problems connected with diabetes. This puts them at a higher risk. 

Are you ready to check if your eyes are healthy?

Getting a comprehensive eye exam is the best way to make sure your eyes are healthy. Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR today!

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Statistics from the American Academy of Ophthalmology report that approximately 29 million Americans 20 years of age and older have diabetes, but nearly one-third don’t know they have the disease which puts them at a higher risk for vision loss and other health problems. Often symptoms go unnoticed and don’t begin to affect a person’s vision until the disease has progressed and is less easily treated. Eye problems that affect those who have diabetes include cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Affecting 5.3 million Americans 18 and older, diabetic retinopathy is the most common vision complication associated with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding condition in which blood vessels inside the retina become damaged by high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes. This results in fluid leaking into the retina, obstructing blood flow, which can lead to severe vision loss.

Early diagnosis of diabetes can greatly reduce a person’s risk of developing eye disease. With a dilated, comprehensive eye examination, our doctors can look inside your eye and examine blood vessels directly, detecting signs and symptoms of vascular disease such as diabetes and hypertension. With a comprehensive eye exam, early signs of diabetic retinopathy, such as leaking or damage blood vessels, retina swelling (macular edema), and deposits on the retina can be detected. Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness is a perfect time to invest in your vision by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam.  

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The retinal hemorrhaging associated with diabetes has no symptoms at first, but once vision is affected it becomes much harder to treat. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of legal blindness in the US for people under age 65. It is the second leading cause of legal blindness in the country for people over age 65.

How is diabetic eye disease treated? First by controlling blood sugar. An eye exam may consist of your eye doctor taking some pictures of the retina at the back of the eye to locate areas of swelling. If you have diabetic eye disease, injections of medication into the eye or laser treatments, or both, may be required to stop or slow down the abnormal blood vessels. Unlike cataracts, you can’t replace your retina when it’s not working and unlike glaucoma, you can’t take eye drops to control it.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends seeing your eye doctor when you receive a new diagnosis of diabetes, and at least every year after that. More frequent visits to the eye doctor may be required if there is some diabetic eye disease. With good blood sugar control and appropriate eye exams people with diabetes can keep their eyes healthy and seeing well.

Here are some key facts about diabetes:

• More than 21 million people in the United States have diabetes.
• 6.2 million people with diabetes are unaware they have diabetes.
• An estimated 54 million Americans aged 40 to 74 (40.1% of the US population in this age group) have prediabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developed Type 2 diabetes.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74.
• People with diabetes are 40% more likely to develop glaucoma.
• People with diabetes are 60% more likely to develop cataracts. 

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