What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that causes damage to the retina, and can potentially threaten your vision. If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you are at risk of developing this eye disease. Although most diabetics do not develop retinopathy until they have had diabetes for at least a decade, it is important to undergo regular eye exams in order to identify the disease is in its early stages and take steps to prevent it.

Your body normally converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy in order to fuel different areas of the body. Diabetes causes changes in your glucose levels that alter the flow of blood to your eyes. Over time, high amounts of glucose in your blood can start to damage blood vessels in the retina, which contains the light-sensitive cells you need for good vision.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Blurry or distorted vision
• Difficulty reading
• Dark or “blank” areas in your field of vision

If you have been diagnosed with any form of diabetes, you should visit an ophthalmologist to be tested for retinopathy and other eye diseases at least once a year. Diabetes can also cause cataracts to develop earlier than usual.

If you have further questions about diabetic retinopathy or any other type of eye disease, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today or call (972) 736-9347 to schedule an appointment with our experienced Dallas eye doctor Dr. Dain Brooks. We serve patients throughout Plano, Frisco, and Dallas, Texas.

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that causes damage to the retina, and can potentially threaten your vision. If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you are at risk of developing this eye disease. Although most diabetics do not develop retinopathy until they have had diabetes for at least a decade, it is important to undergo regular eye exams in order to identify the disease is in its early stages and take steps to prevent it.

Your body normally converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy in order to fuel different areas of the body. Diabetes causes changes in your glucose levels that alter the flow of blood to your eyes. Over time, high amounts of glucose in your blood can start to damage blood vessels in the retina, which contains the light-sensitive cells you need for good vision.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Blurry or distorted vision
• Difficulty reading
• Dark or “blank” areas in your field of vision

If you have been diagnosed with any form of diabetes, you should visit an ophthalmologist to be tested for retinopathy and other eye diseases at least once a year. Diabetes can also cause cataracts to develop earlier than usual.

If you have further questions about diabetic retinopathy or any other type of eye disease, please contact Brooks Eye Associates today or call (972) 736-9347 to schedule an appointment with our experienced Dallas eye doctor Dr. Dain Brooks. We serve patients throughout Plano, Frisco, and Dallas, Texas.