Every person living with diabetes is at risk of severe vision loss or blindness.
In fact, roughly half will face diabetic retinopathy, the most common
vision-related complication of diabetes.

“Once vision is lost to diabetic retinopathy, the damage is often
irreversible. But if caught early, there are several good treatments available,”
retinal specialist
Justin Kanoff, MD, of Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado said during a free health lecture
held on May 2 at the Boulder Jewish Community Center.
Diabetic retinopathy results from persistently high blood sugar levels
that weaken blood vessels within the retina. This causes the blood vessels
to leak fluid or bleed, distorting vision.
“Some of these changes in the eye have no symptoms at all, so it
is really critical for patients with diabetes to have a yearly eye exam.
Early detection and treatment can reduce a person’s risk for severe
vision loss by 95 percent,” Dr. Kanoff said.
Unfortunately, only half of those with diabetes see an eye specialist for
an annual retinal exam.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. As the condition
progresses, symptoms can include:
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Seeing flashes or floaters (spots or dark strings floating in your vision)
- Impaired color or night vision
Fluctuating vision can indicate changes in blood sugar levels that could
require better blood sugar control or indicate macular edema, which is
the accumulation of fluid in the center of the retina.
How to Protect Your Vision
Dr. Kanoff said people with diabetes can prevent or delay vision loss from
diabetic retinopathy by following these steps:
-
Control your blood sugar. Taking medications as prescribed, staying physically active and maintaining
a healthy weight are key to lowering your risk and slowing the progression
of vision complications.
-
Undergo dilated eye exams annually. During an exam, your doctor can check for changes to blood vessels within
the retina or warning signs of leaky blood vessels.
-
Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. People with diabetes who also have high blood pressure and cholesterol
levels are at greater risk for diabetic retinopathy.
-
Stop smoking. Some studies suggest that smoking speeds up the progression of the condition.
Treatments for Halting Vision Loss
If your diabetic retinopathy is mild or moderate, controlling your blood
sugar can often slow its progression. Regular monitoring by a physician
may be all that is needed. However, if the disease advances, the following
treatments can help control its progression:
-
Injections. Eye injections of anti-growth factor drugs (anti-VEGF) can help reduce
fluid buildup or widespread blood-vessel growth, which often occurs in
the more advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy. Steroid medication can
also be injected into the eye to reduce swelling.
-
Laser treatment. With this procedure, a laser beam of light targets leaking blood vessels
and seals them off to stop fluid or blood leakage. Laser treatment can
also shrink blood vessels that are growing abnormally.
-
Surgery. People with advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy might need surgery
to remove fluid buildup or to repair a detached retina resulting from
the condition.
Dr. Kanoff said, “Although these treatment options don’t cure
diabetic retinopathy, they can be effective in preventing further vision
loss.”
Click here to view PowerPoint slides from Dr. Kanoff's lecture on "Preventing
& Treating Diabetes-Related Blindness."
If you wish to be screened or treated for diabetic retinopathy, schedule
an appointment with
Justin Kanoff, MD, by calling (303) 772-3300.
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