3 Early Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

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Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the eye. The higher the blood sugar, the more damage they’ll undergo. Over time, this will destroy the layer of tissue in the eye that detects light. We’ll look at this disease’s stages and the earliest symptoms.

Diabetic Retinopathy Stages 

There are two main stages of retinopathy, with the first referred to as nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). In this stage, the blood vessels in the retina will start to leak, leading to swelling in the eye. From there, the blood vessels will start to grow along the retina’s surface. These are abnormal events that result in very weak blood vessels. If they start to bleed, diabetics may experience sudden vision loss or total blindness.

3 Early Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy 

Due to the severity ofdiabetic retinopathy in Brunswick, GA, it’s important to monitor blood sugar levels regularly. It’s equally critical to take note of any changes to your vision:

  • Loss of night vision: Even if you’re seeing well during the day, a change in your night vision may indicate that you’re developing this type of retinopathy.
  • Floaters: The popular term for the patches that float across your vision, those with diabetic retinopathy may begin to experience a sharp uptick in the number of floaters they experience daily.
  • Washed-out colors: Because retinopathy is linked to the light sensors in your eye, you may start to see colors as washed out or faded.

It’s worth noting that in the absolute earliest stages, there are no symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Blood vessels that are just beginning to fray can still keep up with daily demands, so the damage can potentially be substantial when you start to see changes to your vision.

When to See an Eye Doctor in Brunswick 

Diabetic retinopathy is often an avoidable condition, making it exceptionally important to consult aneye doctor in Brunswick, GA, to keep your vision as sharp as possible. At Vision Source Family Eye Care, with locations in St. Marys, Brunswick, you can work with a staff who will monitor your eyes over time, so you’re far less likely to develop this serious disorder.

I Have Diabetes. What Should I Know About Glaucoma?

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Glaucoma is a condition that can cause permanent damage to your eyesight and even blindness. This serious condition can be difficult to catch in its early stages, and that makes ti very hard to protect your eyesight. If you have diabetes, you must take extra steps to protect yourself from glaucoma. As your eye doctor in St. Marys, Jesup, and Brunswick, GA, we can help. Below are some of the commonly asked questions that our diabetic patients have about glaucoma.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, leading to vision damage or even blindness. Glaucoma is usually caused by extra pressure in the eye.

Am I at risk for glaucoma if I have diabetes?

Anyone can contract glaucoma, but people who have diabetes are at much higher risk of contracting glaucoma. Once you have glaucoma, it cannot be cured. However, your eye doctor can treat it to help slow down any potential damage to your vision.

What are the signs of glaucoma?

The signs of glaucoma depend on the type of glaucoma that you have. Signs of glaucoma include:

  • Severe headache
  • Severe eye pain
  • Blurry vision
  • Blind spots in your peripheral vision or in central vision
  • Halos around lights
  • Eye redness
  • Loss of side vision first, then central vision

How can I tell if I have glaucoma?

While you may notice some of the signs of glaucoma from the early stages, some glaucoma has no symptoms until the condition is advanced. If this happens to you, the only way to determine whether you have glaucoma is to see the eye doctor. Your eye doctor can give you a special type of eye exam to look inside your eye. Standard vision exams do not detect glaucoma.

When should I see the eye doctor?

See the eye doctor when you’re first diagnosed with diabetes. Your eye doctor will tell you when you should come for future examinations. How often you should see the eye doctor will depend on your current eye health and other risk factors.

Do you have more questions about glaucoma treatment in St. Marys, Jesup, and Brunswick, GA? Call Vision Source Family Eye Care to make an appointment today.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy  

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Retinopathy is often a side-effect of type I or type II diabetes. It occurs when there is damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may not notice at first. Symptoms may be mild, or you may not have symptoms at all. This is why it’s so important to keep regular appointments for eye exams with your vision specialist in Brunswick, St. Marys, and Jesup, GA. This is the professional who can diagnose and begin treatment for diabetic retinopathy while it’s still in its earliest stages.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may notice that your vision seems to fluctuate at times. Images may seem progressively more blurry as time goes by, and you may begin to notice what looks like spots or string floating in your vision. You may notice blacked-out areas in your vision as well. Eventually, you can suffer partial or complete vision loss due to retinal damage.

If you have diabetes, especially diabetes that seems hard to manage, it’s important to take good care of your eyes. Once vision is lost, it can’t be restored. However, early intervention and treatment may help stop the deterioration.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by too much sugar in your blood. Over time, this can cut off blood supply to the tiny blood vessels that support the retina. Your body will attempt to grow new blood vessels in response, but those new vessels typically don’t develop as they should. Instead, they rupture and leak blood and fluid into the retina. Scar tissue can then form which may cause the retina to detach from the eye. When left undiagnosed and untreated, diabetic retinopathy may cause glaucoma, resulting in total and permanent vision loss.

Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treatable?

Diabetic retinopathy is treatable, and the earlier treatment begins, the less damage it can cause. Initially, you’ll need to get your diabetes under good control, so the damage doesn’t progress. Beyond this, treatments include eye injections, laser procedures, or eye surgery.

 If you suspect you may have early signs of diabetic retinopathy in Brunswick, St. Marys, or Jessup, GA, Vision Source Family Eye Care can help. Call today to schedule an appointment.