Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. It consists of damage to the blood vessels in the retina and can cause vision impairment or blindness.
Risk Factors
All people with diabetes are at risk, including Type I (juvenile onset) and Type II diabetes. During pregnancy, diabetic retinopathy may also be a problem for women with diabetes. All pregnant women with diabetes should have dilated eye examinations each trimester to protect their vision.
About 50 percent of people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime.
Prevalence
About 50 percent of people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy during their lifetime. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher the risk to develop diabetic retinopathy.
Vitreous floaters are sometimes seen as threadlike strands in the patient’s visual field. Typically these lines/spots float or drift as the eye moves
Symptoms
Floaters can be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes difficulty reading or doing close work can indicate that fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light-sensitive part of the retina.
Treatment
Two treatment options are available; both of which are very effective but do not cure diabetic retinopathy: Laser surgery is performed in a doctor’s office or eye clinic. Before the surgery, your ophthalmologist will dilate your pupil and apply drops to numb the eye. In some cases, the doctor also may numb the area behind the eye to prevent any discomfort. A vitrectomy will be performed whenever laser surgery is deemed inefficient, usually if you have a lot of blood in the vitreous. A vitrectomy involves removing the cloudy vitreous and replacing it with a salt solution. Because the vitreous is mostly composed of water, you won’t notice the difference between the salt solution and the normal vitreous.
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Mahalo Yvonne. We are so glad we could make your transition from the mainland to Hilo an easy one.
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It's UV Protection Month and we want to remind you the importance of good sunglasses. You should be wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays when outdoors to protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation, which can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions. Visit our optical in Kona to find the perfect pair.
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We are proud to welcome Dr. Reddens to our Kona office. Dr. Redens prides himself as a problem solver with a deep understanding of anterior segment surgery. He has many, many patients with significant and complex ocular issues who see well as a result of his care. Dr. Reddens has strong friendships and real connections to the island and its people, and very much looks forward to strongly positively contributing to their ocular health and well-being.
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