Diabetic Retinopathy in Tijuana: what diabetes costs your vision
What does diabetes really cost your vision? Often we don't find out until it's too late —and that's precisely the problem with diabetic retinopathy.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
It's the damage that sustained high blood glucose levels cause to the blood vessels of the retina over time. In its early stages it usually causes no symptoms at all, so it can progress silently while the retina keeps sustaining damage. At Vision Clinic we have retina specialists dedicated to evaluating patients with the ocular complications of diabetes.
A fact that should concern all of us: diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of irreversible —yet preventable— blindness during working age. In other words, during the stage of life when we're most active: working, raising a family, caring for others.
Treatment: far more than injections and laser
There are now multiple treatments for diabetic retinopathy, such as anti-angiogenic medications (injections) and laser. However, nothing replaces good control of your glucose levels: it's the foundation of any treatment.
Even with treatment, if diabetes isn't well controlled, the disease can keep reactivating continuously —which can translate into needing more laser sessions or more injections over time.
A fact that surprises many patients: some people have significant retinal damage and still see 20/20, or 100% of their vision. Good visual acuity doesn't mean the retina is healthy —which is why an evaluation with a specialist is essential, whether or not you have symptoms.
How often should I get checked?
Everyone with diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year, whether or not they have vision problems. At Vision Clinic, we dilate the pupil of every patient with diabetes so we can thoroughly examine the back of the eye and catch any sign of retinopathy early.
If you have diabetes and haven't had your retina checked this year, we invite you to schedule your evaluation — protecting your vision starts with knowing its real condition.