As you know, diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are out of control. This disease can effect many organ systems in your body, including our eyes. If you are diabetic, your vision may suffer from the formation of cataracts, glaucoma, or damage to the back of your eye (the retina). This type of retinal damage is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the United States.

Think of the eye as a camera. The lens of the camera is comparable to the lens of the eye. The film of the camera is the retina in the eye. The retina is a thin layer of nerves that can be damaged by diabetes. In general, there are two major causes of retinal damage due to diabetes, both of which lead to deterioration of vision. The first possible cause is the formation of new and abnormal blood vessels. These vessels can cause bleeding, scar formation, or detachment of the retina from the back of the eye. The second possible cause is leaking fluid from the blood vessels. These events are all painless, so most patients do not realize that they have a problem until it is in its end stages. Studies have proven that the longer a patient has diabetes, the higher their chances are of having abnormal retinal findings.

Early detection is very important in protecting diabetic patients from vision loss. There are different methods used to treat diabetic retinopathy including laser surgery, freezing (cryo therapy), and surgical repair. Unless otherwise instructed, every diabetic patient should be evaluated at least once a year by an ophthalmologist. Careful follow up can lead to early detection and early treatment, before the patient's sight is affected.

To schedule your eye examination with Dr. Khorrami, call (315) 464-5230, or talk to your Joslin Center physician.

December 12, 2001