Clear Vision: How Diabetes Affects Your Eye Health
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Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in the working population of developed countries. Patients with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing damage to the tissue of the retina - the sensory tissue that lines the inside of the eyes. The early stage of this condition (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) is usually asymptomatic, and can be detected during a routine eye exam. In this stage, a diabetic patient may have burst retinal blood vessels (haemorrhage) and retinal swelling (edema). In some cases, patients may progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, characterized by new blood vessel growth inside the eye. These blood vessels are very fragile and can haemorrhage easily causing a dramatic decrease in vision. Diabetes can also increase the risk of glaucoma, cataract and retinal detachment. In fact, 60 per cent of patients with type 2 diabetes have some level of diabetic retinopathy at the time of their diabetic diagnosis. Diabetic patients should have annual eye exams to monitor for signs of retinopathy. Reduce your ocular disease risk by coming to Medcan for a Comprehensive Eye Exam with one of our optometrists. To book an appointment at Medcan please call 416-350-5900 or email bookings@medcan.com (Reference: The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Illustrated Manual of Ophthalmology, edition 2, 2004, Kaiser and Friedman, pg 317) |