As someone living with diabetes, your chances of serious eye problems are greatly increased. Protecting your eye health means working with a diabetic eye care expert, and that’s where Retina Institute of Michigan comes in. Experienced retina specialist Anu Patel, MD, offers all kinds of diabetic eye care, from screenings to laser treatments to surgery. Call the office in Bingham Farms or send us a message through our website.
How often do I need diabetic eye care?
The American Diabetes Association® strongly advises all people with diabetes to have dilated eye exams every year, in addition to specific treatment for conditions like diabetic macular edema.
What do diabetic eye screenings include?
Diabetic eye screenings are complete eye exams in which Dr. Patel dilates your eyes using eye drops. The drops widen your pupils, which allows Dr. Patel to examine your retina meticulously.
The retina is a small group of specialized cells in the back of your eye. It takes in light and transforms it into neural signals for your optic nerve to carry to your brain, where the signals become pictures. A detailed retina exam is vital when you have diabetes because the first signs of diabetic eye disease often appear there.
Dr. Patel checks your intraocular pressure and may perform imaging tests to check your retinal thickness and look for signs of blockages, leaking, or other problems indicating diabetic eye disease.
How does diabetes affect my retinas?
Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels within your eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy, where your blood vessels bulge or leak into your retina. You can also develop unhealthy new blood vessels within your retina, which damages your retina further.
Diabetes often damages a tiny part of your retina called the macula. The macula is critical for focusing your central vision. It can grow swollen because of diabetes; a condition called diabetic macular edema.
In the advanced stages of diabetic eye disease, you could develop complications like vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment.
What are the symptoms of diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease can have many different symptoms that vary by disease and the stage of the disease. You could experience some of the following issues as damage accelerates.
- Flashes or floaters
- Shadows or blank spots in your vision
- Blurry central vision
- Strings or moving spots in your vision
If you experience these symptoms, don’t delay in getting diabetic eye care.
Diabetic eye care treatments depend on your problems and symptoms. Your care may include:
- Intraocular injections
- Laser treatment for swelling (focal laser photocoagulation)
- Laser treatment for bleeing (panretinal photocoagulation)
- Surgery
Dr. Patel administers injections and some laser treatments on-site, but more complex surgeries are performed at a surgical center.
Get diabetic eye care at Retina Institute of Michigan by using the booking tool or calling the office today.