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So you’re diabetic, and you know the usual, check your sugar, watch your diet, and check in with your physician regularly. But we’re more concerned about what you may not know.
When it comes to diabetes and your eyes, it can damage the small blood vessels in a part of your eye called the retina. The retina detects light that enters the eye, then sends signals to your brain about what the eye sees. The damaged blood vessels caused by diabetes can lead to vision loss and even blindness. When this happens it is called diabetic retinopathy. In order to slow the progression of this disease it is recommended to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure levels in target range. You can also practice the following care tips to slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy:
Self Care:
healthy eating
limiting carbohydrates
low salt diet
being physically active
may need to be approved by a physician
monitoring blood sugar levels
complying with medications
practicing risk-reduction behaviors
no smoking
Eye Care:
regular eye exams
report vision changes to your physician
If you are diabetic and do not already see an optometrist we recommend paying close attention to the following symptoms. If you experience any of the following symptoms we recommend scheduling an appointment with your optometrist or a retina specialist to diagnose, treat, or prevent diabetic retinopathy.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
Blurred vision
Fluctuating vision
Impaired color vision
Dark or empty areas in your vision
Vision loss