Posts Tagged ‘diabetes’

Age-related diabetes

November 27th, 2009

Retinal problems caused by diabetes are called microvascular abnormalities. Bleeding is also possible resulted from both natural blood and new blood vessels. These blood leaks damage the retina and cause vision loss. In some cases, diabetes leads to diabetic retinopathy.

Visual symptoms of diabetes include double vision and droopy eyes and so on. Usually, a medical doctor can determine diabetes with a blood sugar measurement but an eye doctor is supposed to treat vision problems caused by the disease. Diabetes appears in high sugar count in the blood and insufficient insulin production. Actually, it causes vision problems because there is a lack of oxygen in diabetic patients’ eyes. This lack of oxygen is in turn caused by new blood vessel growth.

Diabetes has been the leading cause of blindness in America. Early detection and treatment are essential to control the disease, thus decreasing the risk of vision loss. What’s more, it is also important for diabetic patients to maintain regular visit to the doctor’s. Yearly exams are highly recommended, in case of blood leakage. Once any leakage is detected, the doctor will use a laser to seal the bleeding vessels or destroy unnecessary retinal areas.

In fact, natural aging is associated with other visual problems such as presbyopia, in addition to diabetic retinopathy. Eye liquids also change in color and density, resulting in dim vision. Dry eye problems can be caused by tears change in old people. Eye droopiness is quite common in old individuals and their pupils become smaller and move slowly. While most of these changes are natural and require no worry, those serious ones should be under regular monitor, including diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration and glaucoma.