DID YOU KNOW THAT DIABETES CAN LEAD TO EYE COMPLICATIONS?

The statistics are alarming. Diabetic retinopathy affects more than 8.3% of the U.S. population. Diabetes can lead to many eye complications, from dry eyes to blindness. The major cause of blindness in people with diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that occurs when diabetes damages the blood vessels that nourish the retina. The blood vessels weaken and begin to leak. This causes two major problems:

Diabetic macular edema, or retinal swelling of the area that allows us to see fine details clearly.

Retinal neovascularization, or the abnormal growth of new blood vessels. These vessels are very fragile and tend to hemorrhage.

These risks can be reduced through early diagnosis and proper treatment.