How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes

If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, it's important to understand how the disease can affect your eyes. Southwest Retina Eye Center in Odessa, TX, we can perform an eye exam for an accurate diagnosis and provide treatment that can slow down the progression of any eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, and help keep your eyes healthy. Learn more about how diabetes affects your eyes and why treatment is important below:

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common eye diseases caused by diabetes. If it is left untreated, the disease can lead to blindness. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina, which is located in the back of the eye and sensitive to light. When the damaged blood vessels become swollen, they can leak and cause blurry vision.

What Other Eye Problems Can Diabetes Cause?

In addition to diabetic retinopathy, diabetes can also cause cataracts, macular edema, and glaucoma. These conditions and diseases can become serious and lead to significant vision loss. Macular edema is frequently associated with diabetic retinopathy and can cause central vision loss, which makes activities like reading or recognizing faces difficult.

How an Ophthalmologist Can Help with Your Eye Health

When you visit us, our ophthalmologist can evaluate your eye health and determine which treatment would be best suited for your condition. Whether you have diabetic retinopathy or another disease, we can develop a treatment plan that will help preserve your vision.

Contact us for Treatment Today

At Southwest Retina Eye Center in Odessa, TX, we provide a variety of treatments that can help you see more clearly. Contact us at (432) 333-1324 today to learn more about how we can protect your vision and to schedule your appointment. We look forward to improving your eye health!