If you live with diabetes, you likely know it can wreak havoc on many parts of your body, including your eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness, and one of its more serious complications is diabetic macular edema (DME), which strikes when diabetes is poorly managed.
Expert ophthalmologist Clayton Stevens, MD, at Stevens Eye Care in Biloxi, Mississippi, specializes in diabetic eye care. In this month’s blog, he outlines what DME is and how our team can help you preserve and protect your eyesight if you have it.
Diabetic macular edema develops when persistently high blood sugar levels damage the tiny blood vessels in your retina. These vessels get weak and start leaking fluid into the central part of your retina (called the macula).
This is the area responsible for your central vision, which you use for reading, driving, and recognizing people by their faces. When that fluid builds up, the macula swells, and your vision becomes blurry and distorted.
Vision changes due to DME can be subtle at first, but they progress over time. Telltale symptoms include:
Symptoms may not appear until the condition advances — another reason regular eye exams are so important if you have diabetes.
One of the challenges with DME is that it usually develops slowly, and you don’t experience any immediate symptoms. That’s why a comprehensive diabetic eye exam is key to identifying fluid buildup before it causes lasting vision loss.
At Stevens Eye Care, we use the latest diagnostic tools to catch subtle changes as early as possible before diabetic eye disease can progress.
The good news is that DME is treatable, and the sooner we begin, the better your chances are of preserving your vision. Dr. Stevens customizes your treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms and your overall eye health.
First, Dr. Stevens helps you understand the importance of regulating your blood sugar. In addition, other treatment options he may recommend are:
We guide you through which treatment is best for you and what to expect with each one.
When you have diabetes, treating DME is only one part of your overall eye care. Consider these everyday things you can do to protect your eyes:
You should also stay proactive about other noteworthy eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma.
At Stevens Eye Care, we offer complete diabetic eye care, including screening for diabetic retinopathy, treatment planning, advanced imaging, and ongoing monitoring.
Partner with us to preserve and optimize your vision. Call today or book online.
