If you have diabetes, it’s important to see an eye doctor in Baton Rouge, LA regularly to ensure the disease isn’t affecting your vision. Schedule your consultation today with one of our doctors at Retina & Vitreous of Louisiana.
How Diabetes Affects Vision
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common reasons why adults lose their vision. This eye disease occurs when elevated blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the back of a person’s eye. The damage causes those vessels to leak, which often results in blurry or lost eyesight. In some cases, the body forms new blood vessels, but they often grow incorrectly, causing more problems with a person’s vision.
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you’re at risk of developing this disease if you don’t regularly schedule an appointment with your eye doctor in Baton Rouge, LA or Alexandria, Covington, Denham Springs, Hammond, New Roads, Opelousas and Zachary. Additionally, doctors recommend an immediate consultation if you notice sudden changes in your eyesight, such as:
- Spots before your eyes
- Gradual blurring
- Sudden flashes
- Distorted vision
- Blind spots
- Difficulty reading or understanding details
There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy. Early-stage retinopathy occurs when the walls of your eye’s blood vessels start to weaken and bulge. Tiny pouches start to form and over time will leak fluids into an area of your retina known as the macular edema.
Advanced stage retinopathy occurs when new blood vessels start to form and begin to secret blood and other fluids into your eye’s lens and retina. In some cases, the fluids will create dark spots in your vision or block your eyesight completely.
To learn more about diabetes and eye care, schedule your consultation at Retina & Vitreous of Louisiana with an eye doctor in Baton Rouge, LA by calling (225) 768-8833 (main office) to set up an appointment today.