Diabetic Eye Care
At Vespa Vision Centre, we offer essential diagnostic services to monitor diabetic eye changes, including OCT imaging, retinal photography, and visual field analysis. Annual eye exams for diabetes patients are highly encouraged.
Understanding Diabetic Eye Complications
Diabetic Eye treatment is crucial because diabetes can affect the eyes in various ways, categorized by severity as Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR), with PDR being more severe. NPDR has Mild, Moderate, and Severe stages. Regular retinal photos help monitor these changes over time.
Diabetic Retinopathy Categorization
Mild NPDR
This is the earliest form of change to the eyes as a result of poor diabetic control. Many times this presentation does not require any further treatment. Stricter control of blood glucose levels is warranted when these findings are discovered within your eyes.
Moderate NPDR
This is the next stage, and usually involves more signs of oxygen deprivation within the eye. Occasionally this stage of diabetic retinopathy does require treatment, but for the majority of the time it is monitored on a more frequent basis.
Severe NPDR
This stage of diabetic retinopathy almost always requires treatment. This can be in the form of laser treatment or injections within the eye. The goal of these treatments is to prevent scarring of retinal tissue secondary to bleeding, which causes permanent vision reduction.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
This is the worst possible stage of diabetic eye disease. Many patients that reach this category of diabetic retinopathy have some form of vision loss.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is another common diabetic eye condition that involves fluid accumulation in the macula, which reduces central vision, which is crucial for fine and detailed vision. OCT imaging is very helpful for monitoring microscopic macular changes.
Many patients who present with decreased vision due to diabetes have a small amount of fluid accumulation in an area of the retina called the macula. OCT imaging is the technology of choice when monitoring changes within the macula, which is a cross-sectional scan of the area. The photo to the left is of a macular scan of an eye affected by DME.
Annual Eye Exams for Diabetic Patients
Diabetes can impact various body tissues, including the eyes, leading to bleeding and damage in the retina, known as diabetic retinopathy. Without regular monitoring by an eye specialist, it can result in severe and irreversible vision loss. Therefore, Diabetes Canada and the Canadian Association of Optometrists advise annual comprehensive eye exams for diabetic patients