What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood.
-
Normally, your body uses sugar as a source of energy
-
With diabetes, your body can’t use sugar properly, so sugar builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into your cells
What Causes Diabetes?
The main reason is a problem with a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your body’s cells for energy.
Diabetes happens when:
-
Your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or
-
The insulin you do make doesn’t work the way it should
How Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes?
High blood sugar over time can damage different parts of the eye. Here are some common problems:
-
Blurred Vision – High blood sugar can cause swelling in the lens of the eye, making it hard to focus
-
Cataracts – The lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making vision blurry or dim
-
Double Vision – If diabetes affects the nerves that control eye movement, it can cause double vision
-
Glaucoma – Increased pressure or damage to the optic nerve can lead to vision loss
-
Diabetic Retinopathy – Changes in the small blood vessels of the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye)
-
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) – Swelling in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. This can affect your ability to read, recognize faces, or watch TV
-
Vitreous Hemorrhage – Bleeding into the center of the eye (the vitreous), which can block vision
-
Retinal Detachment – The retina pulls away from the back of the eye, which can cause serious and permanent vision loss if not treated quickly
What is diabetic retinopathy?
The retina is the very thin, delicate tissue at the back of the eye that changes light into visual images in your brain. It acts like a film in a camera. Diabetic retinopathy happens when changes take b=place in the blood vessels near the retinal, causing leaks or bleeding.
In the early stages of this condition, the vessels can get weak and leak fluid or blood. Your vision may be normal or blurry.
Sometimes the vessels in the retina close and the retina does not get enough oxygen to be healthy. New blood vessels can grow to replace these closed vessels. These new vessels are fragile and may cause bleeding into the eye.
This bleeding blocks vision and may form scar tissue. Scar tissue can then pull on the retina and cause a retinal detachment. This can result in loss of vision or even blindness.
What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?
Your retina is the thin layer of tissue at the back of your eye that senses light and sends visual signals to your brain—like the film in a camera.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes causes damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina.
-
In early stages, the vessels may become weak and leak fluid or blood. Your vision might still be normal or slightly blurry
-
Over time, some blood vessels may close off, cutting off oxygen to parts of the retina
-
In response, your body may grow new blood vessels, but these are often fragile and may bleed into the eye
-
Bleeding and scar tissue can pull on the retina, sometimes causing a retinal detachment, which can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness
How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treated?
-
Laser Treatment – Seals leaking vessels and helps prevent new abnormal ones from growing
-
Vitrectomy Surgery – Removes blood and scar tissue from inside the eye if bleeding is severe
-
Retinal Detachment Repair – Surgery may be needed if the retina pulls away from the back of the eye
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What is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)?
DME is swelling in the macula, the small central part of your retina that helps you see fine details like text, faces, and signs.
-
DME is often caused by diabetes but can also happen after eye surgery or for no clear reason (called idiopathic)
How Is Diabetic Macular Edema Treated?
-
Your ophthalmologist may inject medication directly into your eye
-
The type of medicine depends on your condition. Your doctor will choose what’s best for you
What Can I Do to Protect My Eyes?
-
Get an eye exam every year to catch early signs of diabetic eye disease
-
Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control
-
Eat healthy, take your medications as prescribed, and stay active
-
Laser treatments can slow or prevent vision loss in severe cases, especially when caught early
306-949-2028
3156 Avonhurst Drive, Regina Sask. S4R 3J7
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Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Diabetes & The Eye
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood.
-
Normally, your body uses sugar as a source of energy
-
With diabetes, your body can’t use sugar properly, so sugar builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into your cells
What Causes Diabetes?
The main reason is a problem with a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps move sugar from your blood into your body’s cells for energy.
Diabetes happens when:
-
Your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or
-
The insulin you do make doesn’t work the way it should
How Does Diabetes Affect the Eyes?
High blood sugar over time can damage different parts of the eye. Here are some common problems:
-
Blurred Vision – High blood sugar can cause swelling in the lens of the eye, making it hard to focus
-
Cataracts – The lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making vision blurry or dim
-
Double Vision – If diabetes affects the nerves that control eye movement, it can cause double vision
-
Glaucoma – Increased pressure or damage to the optic nerve can lead to vision loss
-
Diabetic Retinopathy – Changes in the small blood vessels of the retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye)
-
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) – Swelling in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. This can affect your ability to read, recognize faces, or watch TV
-
Vitreous Hemorrhage – Bleeding into the center of the eye (the vitreous), which can block vision
-
Retinal Detachment – The retina pulls away from the back of the eye, which can cause serious and permanent vision loss if not treated quickly
What is diabetic retinopathy?
The retina is the very thin, delicate tissue at the back of the eye that changes light into visual images in your brain. It acts like a film in a camera. Diabetic retinopathy happens when changes take place in the blood vessels near the retinal, causing leaks or bleeding.
In the early stages of this condition, the vessels can get weak and leak fluid or blood. Your vision may be normal or blurry.
Sometimes the vessels in the retina close and the retina does not get enough oxygen to be healthy. New blood vessels can grow to replace these closed vessels.
These new vessels are fragile and may cause bleeding into the eye. This bleeding blocks vision and may form scar tissue. Scar tissue can then pull on the retina and cause a retinal detachment. This can result in loss of vision or even blindness.
What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy?
Your retina is the thin layer of tissue at the back of your eye that senses light and sends visual signals to your brain—like the film in a camera.
Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes causes damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina:
-
In early stages, the vessels may become weak and leak fluid or blood. Your vision might still be normal or slightly blurry
-
Over time, some blood vessels may close off, cutting off oxygen to parts of the retina
-
In response, your body may grow new blood vessels, but these are often fragile and may bleed into the eye
-
Bleeding and scar tissue can pull on the retina, sometimes causing a retinal detachment, which can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness
How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treated?
-
Laser Treatment – Seals leaking vessels and helps prevent new abnormal ones from growing
-
Vitrectomy Surgery – Removes blood and scar tissue from inside the eye if bleeding is severe
-
Retinal Detachment Repair – Surgery may be needed if the retina pulls away from the back of the eye
What is Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)?
DME is swelling in the macula, the small central part of your retina that helps you see fine details like text, faces, and signs:
-
DME is often caused by diabetes but can also happen after eye surgery or for no clear reason (called idiopathic)
How Is Diabetic Macular Edema Treated?
-
Your ophthalmologist may inject medication directly into your eye
-
The type of medicine depends on your condition. Your doctor will choose what’s best for you
What Can I Do to Protect My Eyes?
-
Get an eye exam every year to catch early signs of diabetic eye disease
-
Keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control
-
Eat healthy, take your medications as prescribed, and stay active
-
Laser treatments can slow or prevent vision loss in severe cases, especially when caught early
.png)
306-949-2028
eyesurgeonsofregina@gmail.com
3156 Avonhurst Drive, Regina Sask. S4R 3J7
Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.