Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in your eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, macular edema, and other serious eye disorders. Barbara Dune, OD, and the team at Serenity I Care in Hartford, Connecticut, help patients with diabetes prevent complications through diet and lifestyle support, regular eye exams, medications, and other effective treatments. Call the optometry clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetic eye care.
Request an AppointmentWhat is diabetic eye care?
Diabetic eye care aims to minimize your risk of diabetes-related eye diseases. Diabetes is a chronic disease that damages the blood vessels. It occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or your body doesn’t use it efficiently. Insulin is a hormone that allows your cells to use sugar for energy.
Without healthy insulin levels, sugar collects in the blood and damages the blood vessels. Diabetes can weaken the small blood vessels in your eyes, causing fluid to leak and build pressure.
Expert eye care is essential to preserve eye health and vision if you have diabetes. The optometry team at Serenity I Care provides comprehensive eye care for patients with diabetes.
What problems can diabetic eye care address?
People with diabetes are at an increased risk of several chronic conditions, such as:
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in the eyes. It also causes abnormal blood vessels to grow inside the eyes. This disease can lead to blurry vision, eye floaters, and even vision loss.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that damages the optic nerve, which sends visual information to the brain. When abnormal blood vessels grow inside the eyes, they can prevent fluid drainage and cause pressure to build.
Cataracts
Cataracts cause the natural lenses in your eyes to cloud. Individuals with diabetes are more likely to get cataracts earlier in life than those who don’t. This process occurs when high blood sugar levels change the structure of the lens.
Diabetic macular edema
Diabetic macular edema occurs when fluid accumulates in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that sends visual information to the optic nerve, which passes it on to the brain.
What does diabetic eye care include?
Practicing good diabetic eye care is a collaborative effort between you and the optometry team at Serenity Eye Care. After assessing your eye health and visual acuity, the team may recommend:
- Scheduling regular dilated eye exams
- Monitoring and managing your blood sugar levels
- Following a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Using eye drops
- Taking prescription medications
In some cases, surgery is necessary to address complications from diabetes, such as cataracts or retinal detachment.
Call Serenity I Care or schedule an appointment online to learn more about diabetic eye care.