It is easier to understand this if you know about some of the parts of your eye and how these parts work. The two main parts of your eyes that diabetes can affect are called the ‘lens’ and the ‘retina’. Damage to your ‘retina’ is usually more serious (and also often more common in those with diabetes)
Our eyeballs have a front and a back. The front of our eyes (the part we look out of) is called the ‘lens’. People who need to wear glasses usually have some sort of problem with the lens of their eye. The glasses act like an extra lens that corrects the problem in the eyeball’s lens underneath. You may have… More →
Damage to your retina through diabetes is called ‘diabetic retinopathy’. It is important to remember that diabetic retinopathy is a process. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. The end point of diabetic retinopathy results in total loss of vision (or blindness). Fortunately the beginning part (and to some extent the middle part) can often be successfully treated… More →
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy: Background retinopathy This is the most common form of diabetic retinopathy. It is caused by different types of problems with existing blood vessels within the eye. The problems involve bleeding from blood vessels and leakage of fats and fluids into the tissue of the eye. If these problems occur in one particular part… More →
Several factors influence whether you develop retinopathy. These include your blood glucose control, your blood pressure levels, how long you have had diabetes, and your genes (some people, naturally, are more likely to develop this condition). The longer you’ve had diabetes, the more likely you are to have retinopathy. Almost everyone with Type 1 diabetes will eventually have background retinopathy.… More →
People with diabetes are more at risk of developing ‘cataracts’ and Glaucoma. Many people without diabetes develop cataracts, but people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop this eye condition. People with diabetes also tend to get cataracts at a younger age and have them progress faster. With cataracts, the eye’s lens clouds, blocking light. Cataracts can nearly always… More →
You may not be able to prevent eye damage entirely, but you can certainly do a great deal to reduce your chance of getting it. You can also stop it getting worse if you already have it. However to either prevent it or stop it getting worse it is best to take action early.
What is a diabetes eye check? A check for diabetic eye disease involves a specially trained health professional either looking at, or photographing, the backs of your eyes (or retinas). To see your retinas properly they shine a light through the pupils of your eyes to look in the back of your eye. They usually need to dilate (or make… More →
How do I get a diabetes eye check? The proper eye check for diabetes is not the same as the eye check you have to see if you need glasses. When you get your eyes checked for glasses you are having the function of the front (or lens) of your eye checked. Usually it is an optometrist (or optician) who… More →
What if I already have diabetic retinopathy? The usual treatment for damage to your retina is by laser therapy. Laser treatment seals leaking or new blood vessels. It mainly works by preventing and delaying further damage from occurring. This type of treatment is almost always done by eye specialists. You don’t have to be admitted to hospital to have laser… More →