|
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems
that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease.
All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.
Diabetic eye disease may include:
-
Diabetic retinopathy--damage
to the blood vessels in the retina.
-
Cataract--clouding of the
eye's lens.
-
Glaucoma--increase in
fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and
loss of vision.
Cataract and glaucoma also affect many people who do not
have diabetes.
Back to Top
Diabetic retinopathy. This disease is a leading cause of
blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood
vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal
blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new
blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may
result in vision loss or blindness.
Back to Top
Anyone with diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes,
the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Nearly half of
all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic
retinopathy during their lifetime.
Back to Top
Often there are none in the early stages of the disease.
Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Nor is there any
pain.
Blurred vision may occur when the macula--the part of the
retina that provides sharp, central vision--swells from the leaking
fluid. This condition is called macular edema. If new vessels have grown
on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking
vision. But, even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a
long way without symptoms. That is why regular eye examinations for
people with diabetes are so important.
Back to Top
If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined
at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam. That
means eyedrops are used to enlarge your pupils. This allows the eye care
professional to see more of the inside of your eyes to check for signs
of the disease.
Back to Top
|
|
Yes. Your eye care professional may suggest laser surgery
in which a strong light beam is aimed onto the retina to shrink the
abnormal vessels. Laser surgery has been proved to reduce the risk of
severe vision loss from this type of diabetic retinopathy by 60 percent.
If you have macular edema, laser surgery may also be
used. In this case, the laser beam is used to seal the leaking blood
vessels. However, laser surgery often cannot restore vision that has
already been lost. That is why finding diabetic retinopathy early is the
best way to prevent vision loss.
Back to Top
|
|
Not totally, but your risk can be greatly reduced. The
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better
control of blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of
retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe
retinopathy.
The study found that the group that tried to keep their
blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible had much less eye,
kidney, and nerve disease. This level of blood sugar control may not be
best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children under 13,
or people with heart disease. So ask your doctor if this program is
right for you.
Back to Top
|
|
If you have diabetes, you are also at risk for other
diabetic eye diseases. Studies show that you are twice as likely to get
a cataract as a person who does not have the disease. Also, cataracts
develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Cataracts can usually
be treated by surgery.
Glaucoma may also become a problem. A person with
diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults. And,
as with diabetic retinopathy, the longer you have had diabetes, the
greater your risk of getting glaucoma. Glaucoma may be treated with
medications, laser, or other forms of surgery.
Back to Top
|
|
Much research is being done to learn more about diabetic
eye disease. For instance, the National Eye Institute is supporting a
number of research studies in the laboratory and with patients to learn
what causes diabetic retinopathy and how it can be better treated. This
research should provide better ways to detect and treat diabetic eye
disease and prevent blindness in more people with diabetes.
Back to Top
|
|
Finding and treating the disease early, before it causes
vision loss or blindness, is the best way to control diabetic eye
disease. So, if you have diabetes, make sure you get a dilated eye
examination at least once a year.
|
Back to Top
How do I get more
information?
|
Please call your local eye care
professional for more information.
There are several ways of reaching the ophthalmologists of the
EYE REPUBLIC Ophthalmology Clinic:
-
Visit the EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic website at
EyeRepublic.com.ph.
-
Visit the Ophthalmic
Consultants Philippines Co. website at
OCP.com.ph.
-
Email
help@EyeRepublic.com.ph for
general inquiries. After writing down your comments,
suggestions, problems and/or questions, kindly tell us how
to get in touch with you by providing your name, email,
home/office numbers, and mobile phone.
-
Place a blog
comment at the
EYE REPUBLIC Blog.
|
EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Manila
3/F Don Santiago
Building (DSB) Units 309-310
1344 Taft
Avenue, Ermita
Manila,
1000 Philippines
Direct and Fax: +63 (2)
536-2398
Trunk line: +63 (2) 523-8271 to 79 local 30
Cellular line: +63 (917) 899-2020
Map and directions
|
EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Asian Hospital
and Medical Center
5/F Medical Office
Building (MOB) Suite 509
2205 Civic Drive,
Filinvest, Alabang
Muntinlupa City,
1781 Philippines
Direct: +63 (2) 771-9253
Direct and Fax: +63 (2) 771-9254
Cellular line: +63 (917) 795-2020
Map and Directions
|
EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
Medical City
6/F
Medical Arts Tower (MATI) Suite 602
MERALCO Compound, Ortigas
Ave.
Pasig City,
1604 Philippines
Direct and Fax: +63 (2) 632-7846
Cellular line: +63 (917) 537-2020
Map and Directions
|
EYE REPUBLIC
Ophthalmology Clinic
St. Luke's
Medical Center
6/F
Cathedral Heights Building Complex (CHBC) North
Tower Suite 614
279 E. Rodriguez
Sr. Boulevard
Quezon City, 1102
Philippines
Direct and Fax:
+63 (2) 407-3883
Cellular line: +63 (917) 855-2020
Map and directions
|
CLINIC HOURS
Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
All clinics are
closed on
Sundays and Holidays
|
|
Note: The information here is taken unabridged from the
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health website.
Back to Top |
Normal vision. 
A scene as it might be viewed by a person with diabetic
retinopathy. 
