Let us start with some basic anatomy….. no there is no tests at the end and I am not going to ask any questions. I just feel that for you to understand the effect of Diabetes on the eye, you need to know what the eye looks like and how it functions.

The eye consist mainly of a ball of jellylike substance (vitreous humour), which is securely fit in the eye case in the skull. Most part of the body of the eye is hidden with only a small percentage of the eye that is visible. In the front, there is a lens, which can change shape and length in order for the eye to focus, and behind the lens is an opening where the light is allowed to pass through. This opening is called the pupil.

Inside the eye, at the back of the eye, there is a network of capillaries and light sensitive tissue, pretty much the same idea as an old camera….. the life before we went digital.

At the centre of the retina, we find the Macula. This is a very small area, almost like the size of a pinhead, and is the most specialized part of the eye. In order for us to see, we need to have the light focus perfectly on the macula which also enables us to see very small and fine detail. The rest of the retina gives us peripheral vision, enabling us to see on the side.

Diabetes is a very non sympathetic condition and does not spare anything, including your most valuable asset….. sight!!

Diabetic eye diseases may include:

Cataract

Cataracts develops early in the life of diabetes sufferers which causes clouding of the lens of the eye.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an increase in fluid pressure in the eye that leads to damage of the optic nerve and eventually loss of vision. A sufferer of diabetes, is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults.

Diabetic Retinopathy

One of the worst visual impairment conditions that can occur from Diabetes is most probably Diabetic Retinopathy. This is damage to the blood vessels in the retina which supply the eye with blood, nutrients and oxygen.

Diabetic Retinopathy causes hanges in the blood vessels in the retina and is the most common eye disease in adult diabetics. It is also the major cause of blindness in American adults.

Diabetic retinopathy can have different effects on different sufferers as everyone is unique and does not respond to the disease the same way. In some people, the capillaries may swell and leak fluid, while in other people abnormal new blood vessels will grow on the surface of the retina. This will either cover the retina and the macula or allow parts of the eye to die, thus permanent irreparable damage. To have perfect vision, we need a healthy retina.

In the first stage of diabetic retinopathy, the sufferer may not notice any changes in vision, but after a while it can get worse and cause complete loss of vision and this always affects both eyes.

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

We discern four stages in diabetic retinopathy:

Stage 1: Mild nonproliferative retinopathy

Small balloon-like swellings appear in the blood vessels in the retina. This is known as microaneurysms.

Stage 2: Moderate nonproliferative retinopathy

During this stage some of the blood vessels that supplies the retina with blood, nutrients and oxygen gets blocked off completely, causing ischemia (lack of oxygen) to certain parts of the retina. As we all know, oxygen is much needed to sustain life and keep organs functioning.

Stage 3: Severe nonproliferative retinopathy

As the disease progress, many more blood vessels gets blocked off which is now depriving the retina of a great deal of nutrients and oxygen. The body in response will send a signal to the brain that it is in need of more oxygen, which the body will then grow more blood vessels on the retina to rectify the ischemia.

Stage 4: Proliferative retinopathy

At this stage the new blood vessels are growing on the retina in order to restore blood supply to the affected areas of the retina. This is a very advanced stage of the disease and the blood vessels are abnormal and fragile. These blood vessels grow along the retina and the clear gel inside the eye. This blood vessels are very thin and do not cause any visual impairment, but if they leak blood, severe vision loss and blindness will be the result.

When bleeding in the eye occurs, it can either bleed into the vitreous humour or onto the macula, causing macular edema. Macular edema can happen at any time during the disease.

If the bleeding is inside the vitreous humour, the sufferer can have total vision loss and the retina may even become detached from the surface. This is known as retinal detachment.

With treatment most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be prevented if diagnosed early enough.

It is vital to go for an annual visual acuity tests and dilated eye exams. It is also vital to have the pressure inside your eye tested to make sure that there is not an increase in eye pressure. Even if there is no sign of retinopathy, it is still imperative to have your eyes tested as changes can occur without the sufferer experiencing any symptoms.

Your optometrist will check your eyes for early signs of:

Leaking blood vessels Damaged nerve tissue Any changes to blood vessels Retinal edema (swelling)

Prevention is better than cure, so take care of your eyes…. It is your most priced possession.

Just like any organ in the body, the eyes also succumb to normal wear and tear. As you grow older, you get more susceptible to developing different eye problems, especially if you were not very keen on taking care of your pearly orbs when you were young or you were not a big fan of a healthy diet.

Aside from knowing what vitamins and minerals are essential for your eyes, getting an idea of the common eye problems and illnesses can also help you get a deeper understanding of these twin organs. If you know the causes and risk factors of several eye diseases, which can even lead to loss of eyesight, you probably will take extra precaution when it comes to caring for your eyes.

Astigmatism

This eye problem is something that a person is born with. However, if not given proper attention, astigmatism can worsen as you age. Basically, astigmatism is an error in refraction due to an irregular or unbalanced shape of the cornea. If you seem to have problem seeing an object that is far away or even near you, then you might need to wear corrective lenses for your astigmatism. In few cases, patients might need to undergo refractive surgeries to remedy the problem.

Sty

Sty, or styes, is a common bacterial infection that affects the eye. You will know that you have this problem if you see a small red bump on your eyelids or eyelash area. This is commonly accompanied by swelling, redness, slight tenderness and pain, and even sensitivity to light. The best way to treat this problem is putting on warm compress over the area for a few minutes for about three to four times a day. If symptoms persist, it would be best to see a doctor because you might already need to use antibiotic drops to help fight off the bacterial infection. In cases when styes do not respond to medication or warm compress, surgical drainage might be needed.

Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, is commonly caused by an inflammation or infection of the conjuctiva, or the mucus membrane that lines the eyelids and coats the white areas of the eyes. This infection can be viral, bacterial or allergic in nature. The symptoms of pink eye usually depend on what is causing the infection or inflammation. However, the common signs for all types include redness, itchiness or discomfort, and watery eyes.

If both your eyes are infected at the same time, your pink eye may be caused by allergen or virus. If the infection starts on one eye and spreads to the other eye, then your infection is most likely caused by bacteria. If you suspect that you are suffering from pink eye, it would be best to go to a doctor immediately so as not to spread the disease to other members of your household.

Dry Eyes

It is fairly natural for your eyes to dry out a little as you grow older. However, in some people, drying of the eyes is severe and can cause some discomfort. Basically, the eyes need to be constantly lubricated and hydrated. If your eyes do not get enough moisture, you will start to feel itchiness, redness, and discomfort especially after long periods of watching television, reading or staying in front of the computer.

In order to prevent this problem, which can lead to more severe eye woes, you need to drink plenty of water, refrain from exposing yourself to windy conditions or dry weather, make sure that you eat healthy and take supplements containing Omega 3, and vitamins E, C and A.

Puffy Eyes

The skin around the eyes usually swells for various reasons. In many cases, the eye bags will simply disappear without any treatment. But sometimes, they stay puffed and swollen, especially if you frequently stay up late at night or drink alcohol often. You can get rid of eye bags with the help of an eye cream, such as Eyevive. However, you need to make sure that the eye cream you choose is made from natural ingredients and can also work for other eye problems like dark circles and fine lines.

To know more about how Eyevive can give you healthy looking skin surrounding the eyes, simply visit http://www.eyevive/.

Access To Eye Care Is Important For Your Family.

When children are young they are unable to describe how wel they can see things, particularly in the early learning stages and it is virtually impossible for parent to recognize a visual disability in the early stages thus imparing the child’s development.

Ensuring that your family has regular access to eye care, is perhaps one of the most important things for a family’s health. Without proper eye care, children are too often forced to enter school with untreated sight deficiencies, and in turn do not get the education they deserve. Access to eye care is equally important for adults. Even if you need glasses or contacts, allowing your eyes to go unchecked for long can lead to much more serious sight loss.

Choosing An Eye Care Professional

1. To ensure that your family has proper access to eye care, you need to choose an eye care professional that can work with your entire family, regardless of age. Children require a different approach to eye care than adults do, and not all eye care professionals will work with kids. Or, some will work with older children, but not with toddlers, who need access to eye care as well. Before you settle on an eye care professional, ask around to see which ones in your area accept children.

2. In order to ensure that your family has proper access to eye care, choose an eye care professional that offers several different types of payments options. The eye doctor you choose should accept several different insurance companies, as well as offer cash only payment plans. If you have a large family, you may want to look for an eye doctor that offers family discounts as well.

When You Can’t Afford Eye Care

For those who do not have proper access to eye care due to financial difficulties, there are alternative options, as well. Every state has a low income, state funded, health insurance program. Although these programs do not cover much, they do cover annual eye exams in most states. This is true for both adults that qualify, as well as children. Although glasses, contacts, and other specialized optometric procedures are not necessarily covered, the basic yearly visit is. This is one way our government has opted to ensure access to eye care for everyone.

When You Should Start

Although its never too early to start making sure your eyes are in good health, you should provide access to eye care to your children as early as twelve months. It is most important that children have access to eye care as early as possible to help protect against future eye problems. Your entire family’s eye care should be one of your highest priorities. Thanks to the efforts of many eye care professionals to provide access to eye care to everyone, this is now easier than ever!

If your vision is blurry , you are finding it hard to read or make out objects on the horizon or are suffering from head aches then good access to eye care will provide you with the necessary help you need.