Diabetes and The Eye
Diabetes (diabetes mellitus), which affects over 21 million Americans, is now the leading cause of blindness among working age adults in the United States. It can affect the eye and while some conditions may be mild and self-limited, other may be severe and cause visual loss. The problem is that treatment is most successful when begun early and in fact, many conditions may not present symptoms until the condition is very far advanced. Hence, the importance of routine yearly comprehensive dilated eye examinations by an ophthalmologist cannot be overstated.
What are the more common ocular complications of diabetes?
Cataracts: A clouding of the lens of the eye that prevents light from getting to the retina in the back of the eye.
Osmotic lens swelling: When blood sugar is high, glucose enters the lens causing it to swell resulting in acute nearsightedness. This transient change in vision is reversed as blood sugar is controlled.
Glaucoma: Optic nerve degeneration resulting in a loss of visual field and leading to blindness related to the intraocular pressure.
Double vision: Generally due to problems with the small vessels in the nerves leading to the eye muscles, resulting in a lack of coordinated eye movements.
Dry eyes: Decreased tearing or excess evaporation of the tears.
Diabetic retinopathy: Probably the most severe of diabetic effects. There are two major types:
Non-proliferative: Caused by blockage of small blood vessels with resultant micro-aneurisms and leakage in the form of small hemorrhages or exudates. If leakage occurs into the center of the retina, it results in macular edema with associated decrease in vision.
Proliferative: Due to more severe blood vessel blockage resulting in the growth of new small abnormal blood vessels in the retina and into the vitreous cavity. These are fragile and bleed causing vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachments, scarring and loss of vision.
For more information visit The American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Carlin is a highly experienced, board-certified ophthalmologist and Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology with more than five decades of experience in vision care and surgical innovation. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, he completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of Michigan before serving in the United States Navy in Key West, Florida. In 1977, he founded CarlinVision and has since built a longstanding reputation for excellence in LASIK, cataract surgery, refractive procedures, and cosmetic eyelid surgery. Throughout his career, Dr. Carlin has completed more than 11,000 procedures and remains at the forefront of advanced laser and refractive technologies. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and an active member of multiple leading professional organizations, reflecting his enduring commitment to clinical excellence and patient care.