Many people assume diabetes is a condition of poor diet practice, eating bad food for too long and being overweight. While there is a relationship between weight, processed foods, and onset of diabetes, eating better alone doesn’t just make the condition go away. In fact, diabetes is notorious for affecting multiple parts of the body as the internal system shuts down with regards to its ability to regulate blood sugar levels. The eyes are one such area that diabetes can affect. We at Palmetto Eye in Rock Hill, SC, are here to help.
Eyesight and Diabetes
Diabetes fundamentally impacts how food energy is translated to the body at the cellular level. Normally, the circulatory system moves digested material around in the form of glucose sugar, which feeds the cells. This is regulated by a hormone produced in the body known as insulin. When diabetes occurs, insulin production and regulation malfunctions. An overabundance of sugar can end up in the bloodstream, which damages the circulatory system, even in the eyes. At other times, too little is circulated, and the cells starve.
Diabetic Eye Conditions
Diabetes can cause a number of problems in the eyes when it rises to a serious level. In the case of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina enlarge and leak fluid. This creates damage to the eye, loss of vision and even blindness over time. Another condition, also caused by swelling of blood vessels, is macular edema. This problem also contributes to bad distortion of vision and blurriness.
Glaucoma and cataracts can also develop as a result of diabetes. Certain types of glaucoma come about with diabetes which can cause damage. The resulting eye pressure grows in the eye and glaucoma conditions are triggered. Diabetes can also contribute to faster creation of cataracts in the eyes, resulting in a cloudy layer of protein in the lens that blocks clear vision.
Diabetic-Oriented Eye Care
Knowing a patient has diabetes, an eye doctor can specifically look for growing signs and symptoms of diabetic eye conditions and their presence. With the addition of tools that can help detect these conditions, an eye doctor on our team can confirm the presence of problems like diabetic retinopathy and similar. In fact, regular eye exams are critical for diabetics, as they are considered an important defense to diabetes-related vision damage.
Get Rock Hill, SC, Diabetic Eye Exams and Treatment
An “eye doctor near me” in Rock Hill, SC, with us at Palmetto Eye can help. Our team can treat and examine diabetic patients, helping control related eye issues as well as identifying when new issues are starting to become a concern. The best approach towards diabetic eye problems is to catch them early. With regular exams at Palmetto Eye, this becomes an effective defense. Call us at (803) 985-2020 to schedule an appointment.
