Diabetic Eye Disease

Cooper Eye Care -  - Optometry

Cooper Eye Care

Optometry located in Upper East Side, Manhattan, NY & Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY

Diabetes can lead to a range of health issues, including several that affect your eyes. At Cooper Eye Care in Upper East Side, and Dyker Heights, New York City, the team’s trained eye care professionals provide comprehensive treatment for different forms of diabetic eye disease, such as cataracts and glaucoma, at their offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Without medical intervention, diabetic eye disease can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. To learn more, call or use online booking to schedule an appointment today.

Diabetic Eye Disease Q & A

What is Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetic eye disease refers to a host of eye problems that often occur as a complication of diabetes. Different types of diabetic eye disease can threaten the long-term health and function of your eyes, posing risks such as severe vision problems or blindness. It may come as a surprise, but diabetes is actually one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness.

Diabetes causes damage to your body’s blood vessels, which leads to poor blood circulation in various parts of the body. Certain tissues in your body are more sensitive to decreased blood flow than others, and lack of blood flow to the tissue in your eyes is known to cause vision loss.

What are Some of the Different Types of Diabetic Eye Disease?

Some of the different forms of diabetic eye disease the team at Cooper Eye Care help diagnose and treat include:

  • Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy harms blood vessels in your retina, the light-sensitive area that lines the back of your eye. This is the most common cause of vision loss, vision impairment, and blindness among people with diabetes and working-age adults.
  • Cataracts: Cataracts are a condition that results in the clouding of your eye’s lens. Adults with diabetes are 2-5 times more likely to develop cataracts. Additionally, if you have diabetes, cataracts usually develop at an earlier age.
  • Glaucoma: Glaucoma refers to a collection of diseases that damage the network of nerve fibers connecting your eye to your brain. Some types of glaucoma are tied to the elevated pressure inside your eyes. In adults, having diabetes about doubles the risk of developing glaucoma. 

What are My Treatment Options for Diabetic Eye Disease?

At Cooper Eye Care, the staff provides several treatment options for different types of diabetic eye disease. For diabetic retinopathy, providers may opt for injections of corticosteroids or anti-vascular proliferative medications in the area around the affected eye.

Glaucoma can be effectively treated with a prescription management of antiglaucoma eye drops, while cataracts can be treated either with corrective lenses or surgery.

To find out more about diabetic eye disease and available treatment options, call Cooper Eye Care or schedule an appointment online today.