Diabetic Eye Disease

If you’re one of the nearly 40 million Americans living with diabetes, you know how vital it is to monitor your health, and diabetic eye disease is one of the most common complications of diabetes. To prevent damage to your eyes, rely on Emily Armstrong, MD, and Alex Willoughby, MD, at Umpqua Valley Eye Associates in Roseburg, Oregon. With regular eye exams, the team monitors your eyes, diagnoses issues early, and provides personalized care plans to protect you. Get started today by calling the office or booking your next appointment online.

What is diabetic eye disease?

Diabetic eye disease is an umbrella term for several eye problems that can occur in people with diabetes. The most common include:

Diabetic retinopathy

High blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. Over time, these vessels can leak, close off, or grow in abnormal ways, threatening your vision.

Diabetic macular edema (DME)

Sometimes fluid leaks into the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. The result is swelling and blurred sight.

Cataracts

People with diabetes can develop cataracts earlier and faster. These cloud the eye’s natural lens, making vision blurry or dim.

Glaucoma

Diabetes increases the risk of glaucoma, a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, often due to increased eye pressure.

How does diabetes cause eye disease?

Think of your blood vessels as a network of tiny garden hoses. When blood sugar stays high over time, it’s like running high-pressure water through those hoses, and they eventually weaken.

This leads to blood vessel damage, inflammation, and changes in eye pressure. Over time, these changes can cause blurry vision, floaters, or even permanent vision loss if left untreated.

How is diabetic eye disease treated?

Treatment depends on what type of diabetic eye disease you have and how far it has progressed.

Your care may include:

Anti-VEGF injections

These medications (often given monthly at first) help reduce swelling and prevent abnormal blood vessel growth.

Corticosteroid injections or implants

Used for macular edema, they help reduce inflammation.

Laser therapy

This includes focal laser and pan-retinal photocoagulation.

Surgery (vitrectomy)

If there’s significant bleeding or scar tissue, a surgeon can remove the vitreous gel and repair retinal damage.

Cataract surgery

If cataracts develop, which is common in diabetes, they can be removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens.

How can I prevent diabetic eye disease?

The best strategy is early action. Make sure to:

• Keep blood sugar in the target range
• Control blood pressure and cholesterol
• Get a dilated eye exam every year
• Maintain healthy habits

Avoid smoking, which accelerates vessel damage, and don’t ignore vision changes.

Most vision loss related to diabetes can be avoided with early detection and consistent care. Schedule your next visit to Umpqua Valley Eye Associates by calling or booking online today.