DIABETES
Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of new blindness in the United States for 20-74 year olds. It is therefore critical that all patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus have a thorough eye examination including dilation of the pupils to look for the presence of diabetes related eye disease. Diabetes related eye conditions refer to the various ocular complications that can occur due to diabetes mellitus. Retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts are all potential complications due to diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease caused by diabetes and it is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It results from changes in the blood vessels of the retina. These blood vessels can leak and the fluid may damage the retina. The retina is the piece of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and is responsible for capturing the light that enters the eye.
Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetic retinopathy, at first you may not notice changes to your vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can worsen and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. Roholt Vision Institute has special instrumentation for the detection and documentation of diabetes related eye disease. All patients with diabetes should have their eyes checked at least once a year, more often if there are diabetic related changes in the eyes. Following each visit, Roholt Vision Institute will communicate with your primary care physician as well as your endocrinologist to help ensure that all health care providers are well informed of the status of diabetes mellitus related conditions.