Diabetes can impact your health in many ways, and one of the most serious complications can occur in your eyes. If you or a loved one lives with diabetes, it’s important to know about diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can threaten your vision but is manageable when detected early.
 

Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the tiny blood vessels in your retina; the layer of tissue at the back of your eye responsible for detecting light and sending visual signals to your brain. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage these blood vessels, causing them to swell, leak, or close off. In some cases, abnormal new blood vessels can form on the retina’s surface, further increasing the risk of vision problems.

There are two main stages:

• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR): This early stage is marked by blood vessels leaking fluid or bleeding into the retina. Vision may not be affected initially, but the condition can progress without noticeable symptoms.
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR): In this advanced stage, the body grows new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina, which can bleed and cause serious vision loss or even blindness.

Why Routine Diabetic Eye Exams Are Crucial

One of the biggest challenges with diabetic retinopathy is that it often develops without pain or early warning signs. That’s why routine diabetic eye exams are so important. Even if you feel your vision is fine, changes can be happening inside your eyes that only a comprehensive exam can reveal.

During a diabetic eye exam, your doctor will:

• Dilate your pupils to get a clear view of the retina and optic nerve.
• Use advanced imaging (like optical coherence tomography or retinal photography) to look for changes in blood vessels, swelling, or new growths.
• Assess for macular edema, which is swelling in the area responsible for your sharpest vision.
• Look for microaneurysms (tiny bulges in blood vessels), hemorrhages, and abnormal blood vessel growth.

By catching diabetic retinopathy early, treatment can be started right away to prevent or minimize vision loss.
 

Early Warning Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

Even though diabetic retinopathy often has no symptoms in its earliest stages, be aware of these possible warning signs:

• Blurred or distorted vision
• New or increased floaters (spots or strings in your vision)
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Dark or empty areas in your field of vision
• Colors appearing dull or faded

If you notice any of these changes, schedule an eye exam as soon as possible.

Who Should Get Regular Diabetic Eye Exams?

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you should have a comprehensive, dilated eye exam at least once a year, or more often if your doctor recommends it. Pregnant women with diabetes should have an eye exam early in their pregnancy, as diabetic retinopathy can progress rapidly during this time.
 

Protect Your Vision at InView Eye Care

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition, but with regular eye exams and good diabetes management, vision loss can often be prevented. At InView Eye Care, we use advanced technology and personalized care to detect even the earliest signs of diabetic eye disease.

Schedule your diabetic eye exam with InView Eye Care and let us help you protect your vision against diabetic retinopathy. Visit our office in Durham, North Carolina, or call (919) 808-5449 to book an appointment today.