Howerton Eye Clinic Blog

We care for so many patients with Diabetic Eye Disease. If you or someone you know is diabetic it is important to get your eyes checked on a regular basis. Diabetis is a very serious disease that can cause blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputations. Diabetic Eye Disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this diseases. 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. The most common eye disease is Diabetic Retinopathy. The disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In som 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. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Nor is there any pain. This is why it is important to schedule a routine yearly visit with your ophthalmologist. Diabetic Retinopathy can be treated usually with laser surgery. It is not totally preventable, but your risk can be greatly reduced with early detection.