Protect Your Eyes From the Damaging Effects of Diabetes
Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects many areas of your body, including your eyes. It influences how your body makes or uses insulin, a hormone necessary for breaking down sugar in your blood into energy for your cells. When sugar remains in your bloodstream, it can block and damage the tiny blood vessels that supply your retina, leading to various eye problems.
Diabetes & Your Eyes
Eye exams are always important, but even more so when you have a health condition like diabetes. If you have diabetes, annual diabetic eye exams with a trained, knowledgeable eye care professional can protect your eye health and prevent vision loss.
Diabetes increases your risk of developing serious eye problems, like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy
At the back of your eye is a thin membrane of light-sensitive tissue called the retina. The retina is supplied and nourished by a system of delicate blood vessels. High blood sugar levels can damage these fragile blood vessels, leading to an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy causes these damaged blood vessels to swell, bulge, break, and leak. If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, new, abnormal blood vessels can begin to grow, causing further complications.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic macular edema is a common side effect of diabetic retinopathy. It occurs when leaking fluid causes the macula to swell. Since the macula is responsible for sharp, central vision, macular edema can lead to blurry or obscured central vision.
Open-Angle Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that progressively damage the optic nerve. The optic nerve is the superhighway that transports visual information from the eyes to the brain. Any damage to it can lead to irreversible vision loss.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the most common forms of this disease and has a unique relationship with diabetes: patients with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma, and patients with open-angle glaucoma are at a higher risk of developing diabetes.
Cataracts
Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens begins to cloud. Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process, most often affecting those over 60. However, diabetes causes changes in your eyes that make cataracts more common and more likely to develop at a younger age.
Detecting, Diagnosing, & Treating Diabetic Eye Disease
The best way to protect your eyes from diabetic eye diseases is with annual diabetic eye exams. At Total Vision Sports Arena, our highly-knowledgeable and specially-trained eye care team is experienced with diagnosing eye diseases. And with our advanced diagnostic equipment, we can more accurately detect eye diseases in their earliest stages.
Vision loss prevention is most successful when diabetic eye diseases are caught and treatment is started early. Please visit us soon if you have diabetes.
Many eye diseases develop without early signs, so if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, please call us immediately:
- Blurry or wavy vision
- Frequently changing vision
- Patchy vision
- Poor color vision
- Floaters
- Flashes of light
Our Location
We’re conveniently located off Sports Arena Boulevard, right next door to Phil’s BBQ in the Midway District. There’s tons of parking and an accessible stall right in front of our door. Same day appointments available! Welcoming new patients.
Our Address
- 3750 Sports Arena Blvd.,
Suite 9 - San Diego, CA 92110
Contact Information
- Phone: 619.224.2879
- Email: [email protected]
Our Hours
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
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Total Vision Sports Arena
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3750 Sports Arena Blvd.,
Suite 9 - San Diego, CA 92110
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P: 619.224.2879
[email protected]