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November Is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month: Celebrate with Good Vision Care

ye Michigan Diabetes Eye Disease Month November 2017

The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that around 29 million people in America age 20 and up have diabetes. It is the country’s leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. What’s even more concerning is that about a third have no idea that they are diabetic and may be at risk for vision loss.

What Can I Do to Help?

There are two main things you can do to help out during Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month: share information and take good care of your vision. Tell others about the risks and causes of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Encourage others to get tested for diabetes.

You can help lower the statistics by living healthier. If you have already been diagnosed, you can learn more about proper management to prevent complications.

Tips to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy

High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the retina that causes diabetic retinopathy. This condition can lead to blindness. There are things you can do to protect your vision:

  • Control Blood Pressure – People with high blood pressure are at a greater risk of retinopathy.
  • Manage Blood Sugar Levels – Keep blood sugar levels within your target range through healthy diet and exercise to prevent complications.
  • Schedule Regular Eye Exams – See your eye doctor regularly to screen for diabetic retinopathy. Contact Eye Michigan’s southeast Michigan office to schedule an appointment.
  • Get Help If You Notice a Change – If you notice any change in your vision, seek help right away. Changes can include blurriness, double vision, pain, pressure, and other unusual symptoms.

 

Over 40 Vision Care: Understanding 5 Common Age-Related Eye Diseases

As we age, many of us find that our vision isn’t what it used to be. There are many things that can affect our ability to see the world. It’s important to understand the most common diseases, so you know when to seek medical attention.

Cataracts

Cataracts appear as clouding on the lens of the eye. This area is made of protein and water. As we age, the protein may begin to clump together, causing the cloudy appearance. Cataracts usually begin with fuzzy or cloudy vision and glare-related issues. Patients may also describe double vision in one of their eyes. This condition can be corrected with surgery.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve that brings on blindness. Patients may notice no symptoms at first. As the condition worsens, they will begin to notice peripheral sight fading.

Glaucoma ranks as the biggest cause of vision loss in the U.S. It may be treated with medication or eye drops. When a prescription doesn’t work, surgery may be recommended.

Temporal Arteritis

This condition occurs when large and medium arteries in the temple are blocked or become inflamed. Patients may describe a severe headache and pain when chewing. After a few weeks, the patient may also experience sudden vision loss in a single eye accompanied by a low-grade fever. Vision may be restored if the condition is caught early.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a disorder that can happen in patients with diabetes. As the disease changes retinal blood vessels, they can begin to leak and grow where they shouldn’t be. This can lead to hemorrhaging. As the vessels heal, they can cause retinal detachment. Diabetic retinopathy symptoms include shadows, distorted or blurred vision, and partial loss of vision in one eye.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration causes diminished sight at the center of the patient’s field of vision. It happens when the macula deteriorates. Patients may notice difficulty reading, driving, or performing other tasks. This condition can be treated with laser surgery.

If you notice a change in vision or any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact your eye doctor immediately for an appointment. The best way to ensure maintaining healthy vision is by visiting your ophthalmologist yearly for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

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Understanding Vitreoretinal Diseases

Eye Michigan Vitreoretinal Disease

Vitreoretinal diseases affect the vitreous and retina. This region, which is found at the back of the eye, is not visible. The retina serves as an extension of the brain. It creates the interior lining of each eye and consists of light-sensitive nerve endings that are photoreceptor cells known as cones and rods. Vitreous is the gel-like material that fills the area between the retina and the lens.

What Conditions Affect the Retina and Vitreous?

Many conditions can affect the retina and vitreous, including:

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

This diabetic eye condition often has no early warning signs. Risk increases the longer a patient has diabetes. Proper treatment can dramatically increase the chances of retaining vision.

  • Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration happens when the center of the retina deteriorates. It is more common in older individuals and can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle.

  • Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina pulls away from the layer under it, disconnecting it from the blood vessels that are needed to supply nourishment and oxygen. A retinal tear can also happen when the vitreous pulls hard enough to cause a tear to form.

  • Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a form of cancer that grows in the retina. It can occur when something goes wrong and causes a gene mutation while a baby is inside the womb.

  • Retinitis Pigmentosa

This condition is inherited and can lead to vision impairment. Symptoms begin with decreased night vision and a loss of mid-peripheral vision. Other symptoms include slow adjustment from dark to light, blurry vision, poor separation of color, and tunnel vision.

The best way to diagnose and treat vitreoretinal diseases early is with regular dilated eye exams with your ophthalmologist. Contact Eye Michigan’s Southeast Michigan office to schedule your appointment today.

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Should I Be Worried About Blurry Vision?

Eye Michigan Blurry Vision

Blurry vision can happen due to a number of reasons. This common symptom is often described as a loss of sharpness. Objects and people appear out of focus or hazy. It can happen in one eye or both eyes at the same time.

  • Blurry Vision and Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels within the retina. This condition develops over time and leads to swelling of the macula. Along with blurry vision, you may also notice floating spots or blindness. The best treatment is to avoid the problem altogether by managing diabetes and getting annual checkups.

  • Blurry Vision Caused by Myopia

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the result of a refractive error. This causes objects that are far away to look blurry. This common problem is usually corrected with a pair of eyeglasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.

  • Blurry Vision Caused by Hyperopia

Hyperopia, or farsightedness, means objects that are close look blurry while distant objects are clear. This problem can cause additional eyestrain as the patient attempts to compensate. Hyperopia can be corrected the same way as myopia.

  • Blurry Vision Caused by Astigmatism

If both far and near objects are blurry, then you may be suffering from astigmatism. This refractive problem is usually the result of an irregular cornea and is also corrected with glasses, contacts, or surgery.

If you are experiencing blurred vision, schedule an appointment at Eye Michigan’s Southeast Michigan office. Our ophthalmologists will provide a full dilated eye exam to identify the problem and provide a solution that will help you see clearly.

 

What Is Low Vision?

Eye Michigan Low Vision

Low vision is a condition where patients experience blurred sight, partial sight, tunnel vision, or even being legally blind. Unlike many other eye impairments, low vision cannot be corrected through glasses or surgery. Even with corrective lenses and medical procedures, low vision cannot be restored to 20/20. While a “cure” is not an option, there are things sufferers can do to help them function in their daily lives. Depending on individual cases, ophthalmologists may take different approaches that are aimed to try to enhance vision as much as possible such as:  prescription lenses, therapy or magnification.

Low vision is a condition that can affect people of all ages, but most often strikes elderly individuals. Several different diseases are often to blame for low vision. Glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration to name the most common.

The effects of low vision are, by definition, irreversible, and therefore the best way to manage low vision is to prevent it from happening. Many common eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, can be detected before any considerable damage has taken place. Having a simple and noninvasive test performed early on can prevent a lot of complications in the future. Maintaining regular scheduled visits with your ophthalmologist has the potential to save your vision. Contact Eye Michigan to schedule your appointment today.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Eye Michigan Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes is a concerning and an all-to-common disease that is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. Leading to a large range of complications and symptoms due to erratic sugar levels that wreak havoc on the body including your visual health. Diabetic eye disease refers to several different conditions that are associated with diabetes including:  diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic macular edema (DME).

When a patient suffers from chronically heightened sugar levels, this can lead to swelling as well as damage to the optic nerve, blood vessels, and the immune system. Depending on the course and severity of the disease, a diabetic can suffer permanent damage to their vision.

Catching the problem early can greatly increase the probability for successful treatment as well as recovery. Routine eye exams with your ophthalmologist will help detect the disease in its infancy. Remember to always alert your doctor when you notice any changes in your vision.

Managing your diabetes is of utmost importance. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise greatly decreases the chance that your sugar levels will spike and the disease will damage your eyes. Consult with your ophthalmologist to keep your vision clear and healthy. Make an appointment with your Eye Michigan doctor today!

Diabetic Retinopathy

Eye Michigan Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication from diabetes that affects the eyes. There are approximately 200,000 cases of Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosed per year. Proper treatment and diagnosis can improve quality of life by maintaining or possibly restoring the eyes function. There are ways to reduce the risk of developing this condition and helpful treatment options for those who have developed it already. Although, Diabetic Retinopathy does not have a cure yet, treatment options such as those offered by Eye Michigan ophthalmologists can manage your symptoms. With Eye Michigan support and guidance, best case scenarios are possible to achieve. It is helpful to know the facts.

Did you know that Diabetic Retinopathy affects both individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes begins in youth (juvenile onset) and is insulin-dependent. This means that a healthy diet and lifestyle changes may help (as it does in managing any illness), but not nearly as much as it aids those with Type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes is more typically found to develop in adulthood. It is currently rising in prevalence in younger and younger ages due largely to poor lifestyle habits such as a lack of exercise, obesity, high sugar intake, and additives in processed foods. The body no longer is able to use insulin properly. For the eyes, what can result, is high blood sugar levels that damage the network of tiny vessels that supply blood to the retina.

How to Reduce Your Risk

There is a high percentage of Type 1 patients who develop Diabetic Retinopathy, and a smaller, yet still significant, percentage of Type 2 patients who will also develop it if no preventative action is taken. Controlling blood sugar levels in both Type 1 and Type 2 patients’ is very important to reduce risk. If insulin levels are more stable, inflammation decreases, and therefore the blood vessels of the eyes are also less affected. Be sure to talk to your doctor to learn more about dietary choices that will keep your body as healthy as possible. With inflammation and blood sugar levels under control, you dramatically improve your odds of avoiding the diabetic complication of this disease.

Treatment 

There is a wide range of treatment options available to help you manage Diabetic Retinopathy. Treatments such as laser photocoagulation, modified grid laser photocoagulation, panretinal photocoagulation, intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide, intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs, vitrectomy, and light treatment. Aspirin use is even sometimes helpful. Eye Michigan ophthalmologist will recommend the best treatment plan to work for you.

Contact us to learn more.

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