Diabetic Eye Care | Eye Doctor In Hot Springs, Co
Home > Services > Conditions Treated > Diabetic Eye Care If you were recently diagnosed with diabetes, its possible your vision could be affected by a condition called retinopathy. Receive the diabetic eye care you need to preserve your vision despite your diagnosis. The retina is the layer of nerves at the back of the eye that captures light and allows you to see. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the retina that causes your blood vessels to weaken and leak liquid into the gelatinous middle part of your eye known as the vitreous humor. This changes your vision, may cause scar tissue, and can lead to macular edema, or swelling of the macula. High blood sugar damages the blood vessels in your eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy. While new blood vessels continually replenish in the retina, these will continue to grow in a weakened state if you cant bring your blood sugar levels down. Having high blood pressure alongside diabetes could make retinopathy worse since this condition makes more fluid leak from weakened blood vessels. Many people dont experience symptoms until their diabetic retinopathy has become severe. When you start noticing something wrong with your vision, heres what to expect: Loss of central vision, which is most noticeable when you read or drive Visit our diabetic eye doctor right away if you notice any of these or other vision problems, whether or not you have diabetes. When you visit our office in Hot Springs for an eye exam, our eye doctor will dilate your pupils and look for any changes that could indicate retinopathy. This is the only way to diagnose this condition early enough to treat it effectively, which is why having routineeye exams once a year is so vital, especially if you have diabetes. Without proper eye care, you may not notice any Continue reading >>
Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome
What is childhood nephrotic syndrome? Children with too much protein in their urine, sudden weight gain, and swelling in various body parts could have a condition called nephrotic syndrome. Childhood nephrotic syndrome is also called nephrosis. Nephrotic syndrome happens when tiny structures in the kidneys called glomeruli stop working properly and let too much protein enter the kidneys. What causes childhood nephrotic syndrome? In most cases, the cause is not known. However, a number of conditions can damage the glomeruli and cause nephrotic syndrome. In children, the most common cause is due to minimal change disease. The cause of minimal change disease isn't known, but it can be related to infections, tumors, allergic reactions, and overuse of over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Most children outgrow minimal change disease by the time they are in their teens. Other conditions can damage the glomeruli, including other kidney conditions, immune system problems, infections, or diseases like cancer and diabetes. In certain cases, an allergic reaction to food or the use of certain legal and illegal drugs, or obesity can lead to nephrotic syndrome. Do other kidney diseases cause swelling and protein in the urine? Edema and protein in the urine are common in other types of kidney disease, especially glomerulonephritis. Who gets it? Usually, young children between the ages of 1 ½ and 5, although children of all ages and even adults can get it. It happens twice as often in boys than in girls. How can I tell if my child has it? You may see swelling around your child's eyes in the morning. Often, that's the first sign. As time passes, the swelling may last all day, and you may see swelling in your child's ankles, feet or belly. Also, your child may: Continue reading >>
Eating Too Much Sugar? Why Your Vision Suffers
Halloween brings the feeling of fall across the country, with kids dressing up in their best costumes and trick-or-treating among neighbors. Often, they bring back a lot of candy - some of which they inhale immediately, and some of which parents sneak away to hide (or to eat!) But what happens when you overload sugar? A bounty of problems! Diabetes: According to the American Diabetes Association, it's a myth that eating too much sugar can cause diabetes, but research has shown links between sugar andtype 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends avoiding excess sugar regardless, in an attempt to regulate blood glucose. Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes and 8.1 million cases are undiagnosed. Diabetes makes it difficult for your body to produce or use the hormone insulin. Consuming too much sugar causes your body to produce insulin to help your body use and remove this sugar (glucose) from your blood. Otherwise, the sugar builds up in your blood, causing a host of ailments, including vision problems, such as Diabetic retinopathy. Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of eye damage of people with diabetes. The retina is a group of cells in the back of the eye that transmits visual information from the optic nerve to the brain for processing. In individuals with diabetic retinopathy, elevated and uncontrolled blood sugar levels cause irreversible damages to the delicate blood vessels in the retina, causing visual impairment or blindness, says the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Cataracts: The lens within your eye allows your eye to focus light and images on your retina and transmits them to your brain. Cataracts cause a clouding of the usually clear lens, making it difficult for your eyes to focus light, resulting in blurred or Continue reading >>
Eye Problems And Diabetes
Eye problems and diabetes introduction If you have diabetes, regular visits to your ophthalmologist for eye exams are important to avoid eye problems. High blood sugar (glucose) increases the risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74. If you have eye problems and diabetes, don't buy a new pair of glasses as soon as you notice you have blurred vision. It could just be a temporary eye problem that develops rapidly with diabetes and is caused by high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (90-130 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal. Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more serious eye problem with diabetes. The three major eye problems that people with diabetes may develop and should be aware of are cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. A cataract is a clouding or fogging of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens is what allows us to see and focus on an image just like a camera. Although anyone can get cataracts, people with diabetes get these eye problems at an earlier age than most and the condition progresses more rapidly than in people without diabetes. If you have a cataract, there is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye that results in the inability to focus light, and your vision is impaired. Symptoms of this eye problem in diabetes include blurred or glared vision. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed or cleaned ou Continue reading >>
Macular Edema
Even as the word retina has become commonplace, the macula and its diseases are often misunderstood. The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells that lines the inside of the eye. The many layers of the retina work together to convert light focused on the retina into an exquisitely detailed message that travels to the visual cortex in the brain. There, the message is decoded and directs us to take action— “that’s a fine looking piece of pie!” The macula is the part of the retina that helps us see fine detail, faraway objects, and color. It’s packed with more photoreceptors (light-sensitive cells) than any TV or monitor. The small, central area of the retina is worth the most—the bullseye of sight. Macular edema, degeneration, hole, pucker, drusen (small yellowish deposits), scar, fibrosis, hemorrhage, and vitreomacular traction are common conditions that involve the macula. When macular disease is present, distorted vision (metamorphopsia), blank spots (scotoma), and blurred vision are common symptoms. Symptoms Macular edema refers to an abnormal blister of fluid in the layers of the macula. From the side, it looks like the snake that ate too much. Like a droplet of water on your computer screen, the swollen retina distorts images—making it more difficult to see clearly. The more widespread, thicker, and severe the swelling becomes, the more likely one will notice visual symptoms of blur, distortion, and difficulty reading. If untreated, chronic macular edema can lead to irreversible damage of the macula and permanent vision loss. Macular edema is typically caused by increased leakage from damaged retinal blood vessels or growth of abnormal blood vessels in the deep retina. New vessels (neovascularization or NV) do not have normal “tight junctions” Continue reading >>
How Your Eyes Can Reveal You’ve Got High Blood Pressure: If You're Worried About Your Health Here’s Where To Look For An Instant Diagnosis
Whether it’s a lack of sleep or swimming in a chlorinated pool, it’s usually obvious why your eyes are giving you trouble. But sometimes what seems a routine annoyance could point to a deeper problem. Here, Angela Epstein reveals the potential causes of your eye symptoms... RED EYES Cold sore: Viruses or localised infections can cause the eye to redden — the problem usually starts in one eye, but can spread to both. The cold sore virus, which 90 per cent of us carry, can sometimes also infect the eye, causing inflammation. Other symptoms of an eye infection include throbbing pain around your eye, sensitivity to light, (photophobia) and a watery eye. You may need antiviral drops or ointment from your GP. If you have a cold sore on your mouth, always wash your hands after touching it. Iritis: If the eye turns a deep red and you have throbbing pain at the front, this could be iritis or anterior uveitis — inflammation of the iris, the coloured part of the eye. This is triggered by an over-reaction of the immune system, though its exact cause isn’t known. The redness tends to start at the centre of the eye and spreads in a red ring around the centre within 24 to 48 hours. It doesn’t usually spread to the other eye. Treatment initially involves corticosteroid eye drops, though if there is infection, you may need antibiotics. High blood pressure: Persistent red blotches on the whites of both eyes can be a sign of hypertension, explains Ian Grierson, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool. High pressure causes the blood vessels to expand or even burst, leaving red marks across the white of the eye (but not the coloured part). Haemorrhage: If one eye suddenly becomes red without any other symptoms, then it could be a subconjunctival haemorrhage — Continue reading >>
Everything You Need To Know About Edema
Edema is swelling that occurs when too much fluid becomes trapped in the tissues of the body, particularly the skin. There are different causes and types of edema. Pulmonary edema, for example, affects the lungs, while pedal edema causes swelling in the feet. Edema usually starts slowly, but onset can be sudden. It is a common problem, but it can also be the sign of a serious condition. This MNT Knowledge Center article will explain what edema is and how to recognize it, as as the different types and treatments of edema. The article will also look at possible complications of the condition. Here are some key points about edema. More detail is in the main article. Edema happens when excess fluid stays within the body's tissues. There is usually an underlying disease or condition. Symptoms depend on the cause, and they normally develop gradually. Medications are available to treat edema. What is edema? Edema refers to swelling and puffiness in different areas of the body. It most often occurs in the skin, especially on the hands, arms, ankles, legs, and feet. However, it can also affect the muscles, bowels, lungs, eyes, and brain. The condition mainly occurs in older adults and women who are pregnant, but anyone can experience edema. Symptoms Symptoms depend on the underlying cause, but swelling, tightness, and pain are common. A person with edema may notice: swollen, stretched, and shiny skin skin that retains a dimple after being pressed for a few seconds puffiness of the ankles, face, or eyes aching body parts and stiff joints weight gain or loss fuller hand and neck veins abdominal pain changes in bowel habits nausea and vomiting confusion and lethargy visual abnormalities Symptoms depend on the underlying cause, the type of edema, and where the edema is located. Trea Continue reading >>
Swelling (edema) And Diabetes - Swelling In The Legs, Ankles And Feet
Tweet Edema (known as oedema in the UK) is a build up of fluid in the body (water retention) which causes swelling. Edema commonly affects the legs, ankles, feet and wrist. Water retention is often treatable, with treatment varying depending on the cause. Symptoms of edema The main symptom of edema is swelling of the affected area. Other symptoms that may occur, along with swelling, include: Weight gain Aching limbs Stiff joints Discolouration of skin Hypertension (high blood pressure) What causes swelling in the legs, feet and ankles? Swollen ankles and legs will often be brought on, or aggravated, by long periods of standing. A number of medications can increase the risk of oedema. Such medications include corticosteroids, blood pressure medications and the contraceptive pill. Water retention may also be caused by a number of conditions including: A high intake of salt can increase the problems of swelling in people with kidney disease. Treatment for edema Treatment for edema may vary depending on the cause. Water retention may be resolved if the underlying cause can be adequately treated. Regular physical activity and preventing long periods of standing can help reduce water retention. A low dietary salt intake is advisable, particularly if fluid retention has been brought on by kidney disease. If you are overweight, weight loss can help with reducing fluid retention. Diuretics, also known as ‘water tablets’, help to remove fluid from the body and may be prescribed for some causes of oedema. Prevention You can reduce your risk of edema by taking steps to prevent kidney disease and heart failure from developing. This can be achieved through good control of blood glucose levels, regular exercise and a healthy diet. If you can avoid long periods of standing, this wi Continue reading >>
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an accumulation of fluid in the macula—part of the retina that controls our most detailed vision abilities—due to leaking blood vessels. In order to develop DME, you must first have diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that damages the blood vessels in the retina, resulting in vision impairment. Left untreated, these blood vessels begin to build up pressure in the eye and leak fluid, causing DME. DME usually takes on two forms: Focal DME, which occurs because of abnormalities in the blood vessels in the eye. Diffuse DME, which occurs because of widening/swelling retinal capillaries (very thin blood vessels). Diabetic Retinopathy and DME are common problems for diabetics. Roughly 8% of the U.S. population is diabetic, and about 28% of those diabetics have eye trouble because of it. Often, DME is associated with: those who have had diabetes for an extended amount of time, severe hypertension (high blood pressure), fluid retention, hypoalbuminemia (low levels of protein in body fluids), and hyperlipidemia (high levels of fats in the blood). DME Symptoms: Common symptoms of DME are blurry vision, floaters, double vision, and eventually blindness if it goes untreated. Treatments for DME: The treatments for focal and diffuse DME differ, but they both involve laser procedures. Most doctors use focal laser treatment to treat focal DME and grid laser treatment to treat diffuse DME. The goal of both kinds of procedures is to stop the leakage in the macula. DME Procedure Recovery: Normal recovery time after a DME procedure is 3-6 months. As the eye heals and the swelling in and around the macula subsides, you may experience sensitivity to light, irritation in the eye, and black spots in the center of your vision. These are nor Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms You Can’t Afford To Ignore & What You Can Do About Them
In the U.S., diabetes — or diabetes mellitus (DM) — is full-blown epidemic, and that’s not hyperbole. An estimated 29 million Americans have some form of diabetes, nearly 10 percent of the population, and even more alarming, the average American has a one in three chance of developing diabetes symptoms at some point in his or her lifetime. (1) The statistics are alarming, and they get even worse. Another 86 million people have prediabetes, with up to 30 percent of them developing type 2 diabetes within five years. And perhaps the most concerning, about a third of people who have diabetes — approximately 8 million adults — are believed to be undiagnosed and unaware. That’s why it’s so vital to understand and recognize diabetes symptoms. And there’s actually good news. While there’s technically no known “cure” for diabetes — whether it’s type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes — there’s plenty that can be done to help reverse diabetes naturally, control diabetes symptoms and prevent diabetes complications. The Most Common Diabetes Symptoms Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that results from problems controlling the hormone insulin. Diabetes symptoms are a result of higher-than-normal levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. With type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually develop sooner and at a younger age than with type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes also normally causes more severe symptoms. In fact, because type 2 diabetes signs and symptoms can be minimal in some cases, it sometimes can go diagnosed for a long period of time, causing the problem to worsen and long-term damage to develop. While it’s still not entirely known how this happens, prolonged exposure to high blood sugar can damage nerve fibers that affect the blood vessels, heart, e Continue reading >>
6 Scary Reasons Your Eyes Are Acting Weird
The eyes have it—the clues to your health, that is. Sure, you need to be on the lookout for common eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. But your eyes may also tell you when things are seriously off elsewhere. "Nothing in your body is in a box," says Deborah Herrmann, MD, assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology and attending physician at Scheie Eye Institute at University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. "Your eyes are connected to your central nervous system and everything else. Something that's affecting your body can be affecting your eyes as well." Whether you're feeling weird eye symptoms or seeing them when you look in the mirror, pay attention. Your peepers could be sounding the alarm about one of these 6 serious conditions. "Someone with high cholesterol can have transient vision loss that comes and goes, like a curtain or shade coming and going over their eye," says Herrmann. This is a sign your carotid artery is plugged with plaque and struggling to get blood to your eye. You may also have eye pain, notice a grey ring around your cornea (called an arcus senilis), or have trouble adjusting to bright light. In some cases, yellowish cholesterol deposits called xanthelasma can show up on your eyelids or in the corners of your eye socket. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ in your neck, and it controls certain hormones that help regulate your growth and metabolism. If your thyroid isn't functioning properly it can lead to a host of problems, which sometimes includes swollen eye muscles and congested eye sockets that cause your eyes to bulge out and look bigger than usual, says Herrmann. You might also have double vision. Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects your thyroid, can make your eyelids Continue reading >>
Is Swelling Related To High Blood Sugar?
Insulin is a hormone that transfers sugar from your blood to your cells. When you have insufficient amounts of insulin -- or your cells are resistant to insulin -- a you may develop high blood sugar. High blood sugar is the predominant characterization of diabetes, but it is also associated with people who have pre-diabetes. High blood sugar can lead to complications of diabetes that include conditions which involve swelling. Video of the Day Swelling, also called edema, is the enlargement of a body tissue, such as skin or an organ. A buildup of fluid in the tissue causes swelling to take place in a local area in several parts throughout your body and leads to rapid weight gain in a short period of time. Common parts of the body that can be affected include the feet, legs, gums, face, blood vessels, joints and glands. Swelling can occur when you eat too much sodium or take diabetes medications called thiazolidinediones. Diabetic Retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes characterized by swelling of the lenses of your eyes that is caused by damage to your blood vessels from high levels of blood sugar. Initially, you may not know you have any problems and your eyesight may appear fine. Over time, though, excessive levels of blood sugar in the capillaries that nourish your retina can cause diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. In fact, the higher the levels of blood sugar, the more likely you will damage blood vessels and develop diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar increases your risk of an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, conditions characterized by blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain, or bleeding into or around the brain, respectively. High blood sugar can cause more swelling associated with a stroke. Research by scientists at the Seoul Continue reading >>
Diabetes Basics
Basics of diabetes Diabetes is a condition caused by lack of a chemical in the body (a hormone) called insulin. There are two major forms of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes eventually no insulin is produced and individuals require insulin injections for survival. It used to be thought this only presented in children, but it is now clear this can occur at any age. The other more common form of diabetes called type 2 diabetes occurs due to the body's resistance to the effects of insulin in addition to an insufficient quantity of insulin. However, in this type of diabetes there is usually some insulin produced. For both types of diabetes, blood glucose levels are elevated. Furthermore, people with diabetes are prone to certain complications not seen in those without diabetes. These complications involve the eye (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy) and nerves (neuropathy). People with diabetes also get early hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to early heart attacks and strokes. The good news for people with diabetes is that with proper care all of these problems can be avoided. Immediate medical attention Uncontrolled diabetes presents with frequent thirst and urination. Over time, patients will become dehydrated as the glucose is "spilling" over into the urine. If insulin deficiency is severe enough, fat stores are used for energy as glucose cannot get into cells. This problem is much more common with type 1 diabetes and is called "ketoacidosis". It can be diagnosed at home with a simple urine test. When significant ketones are found in the urine, it is important to be in touch with a physician immediately. There are other conditions that require immediate attention. Blurry vision in someone with known diabetic eye disease or someone with a long history of di Continue reading >>
Eyelid Swelling - Upper, Lower, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies | Diseases Pictures
Many people have eyelid swelling at some point in their life. But this does not require any treatment since the swelling will settle down on its own. You can always apply warm compression for reducing the inflammation or take antihistamines. However you should never squeeze your eyes which may worsen the swelling. Several factors are responsible for causing swelling on the eyelids. It can be caused due to allergic reactions by changing eyelid polishes or other cosmetics like hair spray or makeup. Allergy can also occur from pet animals. Sometimes eyelid swelling is caused due to abnormal reaction of immune system. If the eyes are left with allergen, automatic defense system of the eyes secretes histamines for protecting it which would make the eyelids to swell. Blepharitis is a condition of eyelid inflammation which causes redness and irritation on the eyes. Your will have burning sensation or gritting feeling on the eyes when infected with blepharitis. Some people will feel as though sand is deposited inside the eyes during this situation which will cause swelling of eyelids. This is caused due to bacteria or virus and sometimes due to potential allergens like dust, smoke. Even changing your contact lenses and eye drops can cause conjunctivitis leading to redness and swelling of eyelids. Stye is an eye infection caused by bacteria on the sebaceous glands forming cysts inside the eyes. This would also cause eyelid swelling and redness. When the oil glands of the eyes are blocked for some reason, it may cause swelling of eyelids with redness and itchiness. When the subcutaneous glands or tissues get inflamed (cellulitis) it may cause eye irritation and eyelid swelling. Some disease like diabetes or sinusitis can also cause swelling of eyelids and redness. Eyelid swellin Continue reading >>
What Treatments Are Available For Diabetic Eye Disease?
The first step in any treatment for diabetic eye disease is to maintain blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood cholesterol levels as close to normal as possible. Treatment of diabetic macular edema (swelling or the accumulation of blood and fluids in the macula, the part of the retina that provides sharp central vision), has evolved a great deal in the last five to ten years, and is based on the severity of the edema. At present, there are three options: laser treatment Avastin, Lucentis, or Eylea injection intravitreal steroids: Kenalog, Ozurdex, and Iluvien Laser Treatment This technique is used by retinal surgeons to treat a number of eye conditions, one of which is diabetic eye disease. A beam of high-intensity light is directed into the eye to seal off leaking blood vessels and prevent additional blood and fluid from leaking into the vitreous, which is the jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the back part of the eye. The doctor administers eye drops to dilate (open up) the pupil and numb the eye before treatment begins. Because lasers cannot restore lost vision, it is critical to maintain regular comprehensive eye examinations so that treatment can be initiated as soon as diabetic eye changes are detected. There are two types of laser treatments for diabetic eye disease: Focal laser treatment, also called photocoagulation: The retina is treated to stop or slow the leakage of blood and fluid from abnormal blood vessels within the eye. Focal laser, however, can also destroy surrounding healthy retinal tissue as it seals the leakage from abnormal blood vessel growth; therefore, it is not used on blood vessels directly under the macula, the center of the retina. Scatter laser treatment, also called panretinal photocoagulation: The areas of the retina away f Continue reading >>
