Your eyes are the window to the world and any interference is unsettling at best if not a little frightening as well. Your eyes are a complex part of the human body and human experience and are subject to problems from any number of comorbidity issues. One of these is being seen increasingly in patients. It is diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is a disorder or disease of the retina or thin tissue that coats the back of the eye. It affects the retinal blood vessels and can cause images that appear as cottony-wool spots, hemorrhages both microscopic and larger, microaneurysms and more. Diabetic retinopathy is a direct complication of diabetes related to high blood sugar levels over the course of years. This causes interference of fresh blood delivery to the retina and the disease is the result. In other words, if you have suffered from diabetes over many years there is a great likelihood you will also experience diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers claim that ‘retinopathy’ is the leading cause of blindness in the United States today. Retinopathy can be caused by a variety of disorders including (but not limited to) hypertension, diabetes and even smoking!
So, what can you do? First, and most important, keep careful track of the health of your eyesight. That means visiting your optometrist every six months perhaps instead of annually. But even more important is to control the underlying issues that can lead to diabetic retinopathy. In other words, be proactive in treating your diabetes.
Treating diabetes requires the patient to work with a doctor or team of doctors who will oversee your diet and exercise regimens. Nothing can be more important than keeping track of your blood-sugar levels and avoiding spikes. Sure, that donut looks delicious but what it can do to your blood-sugar hardly makes it worth it!
In tandem with keeping your blood-sugar levels down, it is also important to monitor other health issues such as cholesterol. It is also a good idea to educate yourself about the types of foods that enhance your sight. This would include such things as raw fruits and green vegetables, which happen to be good for your body in other ways as well!
If you are in search of an optometrist, please contact the experts at Island Eyecare. We have the experience and training to ensure you get the highest quality eyecare!