Diabetic Eye Exams in Pennsylvania

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels in your retinas become damaged due to high blood sugar levels. In response, your retinas may create tiny and extremely delicate new blood vessels in an effort to supply oxygen to the retinal tissue. These new vessels are very weak and can leak, resulting in diabetic retinopathy, and potentially vision loss.

Diabetic macular edema occurs when fluid leaks under your macula. This ultimately results in permanent damage to your central vision.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, and your chances of developing it nearly doubles when you have diabetes. Open-angle glaucoma occurs when too much fluid is produced or not enough fluid is drained from the trabecular meshwork in the eye, leading to an increase in intraocular pressure. This pressure damages the optic nerve, resulting in permanent vision loss.

Cataracts aren’t an eye disease, but rather a condition that affects the clarity and quality of your vision. Cataracts develop when the clear crystalline lens of your eye becomes denser and less flexible as you age, resulting in dim, cloudy vision. Diabetes can increase your chances of developing cataracts.