If you have diabetes, it's important to understand all the ways it can affect you. One of those ways is through diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition that causes vision loss. Optometric Clinic is here to help. For patients in the Hattiesburg, MS, area who need an eye doctor who can help with diabetes treatment and relief, contact us today.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
When you have diabetic retinopathy, your retina will develop additional, abnormal blood vessels. The growth of these vessels and the changes to the vessels that are already there can damage light-sensitive tissue in your eyes. As this worsens, you can lose a lot of vision over time. If left untreated, this condition can even lead to blindness in some patients.
How Does Diabetes Treatment Affect Your Eyes?
If your diabetes is well-controlled, your risk for developing diabetic retinopathy is reduced. This is true whether you have Type I or Type II diabetes. Working with your optometrist is important for the health of your eyes, but you also need to make sure you're managing your blood sugar and working with medical professionals to keep your condition under control as much as possible.
Good management of your diabetes doesn't guarantee that you can avoid complications with your eyes, but it reduces your risk of developing problems and can slow the progression of issues that occur over time. By talking with your eye doctor about your diabetes management you can get a better idea of how your eyes are doing and whether retinopathy is becoming a problem.
What Will an Optometrist Do to Help?
While optometry doesn't address diabetes control, working with your optometrist is a great way to keep track of your eye health. This can provide you with important information about the development of any eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy. If you find that your eyes are getting worse, you may need additional diabetes treatment to help keep your blood sugar more stable.
Get Quality Optometry Services Today
When you're looking for relief from diabetic retinopathy or other serious eye conditions in the Hattiesburg, MS, area, Optometric Clinic can help. Contact us today, and let us work with you to keep your eyes as healthy as possible. While retinopathy can't be reversed, we can help you take measures to reduce its impact on your life and keep it from advancing to further vision loss.