If you have diabetes, you could be at risk for various kinds of diabetic eye disease, including diabetic retinopathy. It's important to work with an ophthalmology professional to make sure you're getting the screening and treatment you need. Since some eye conditions are more treatable than others, finding the problem quickly is the key to reducing any loss of vision or other affects.

At Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates, we have outreach clinics in Pierre, Belle Fourche, and Spearfish, SD, as well as Chadron, NE, to help people with diabetic eye disease and other conditions get the treatment they need to see as clearly as possible for as long as they can. We can answer your questions and assess your eye disease concerns.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that occurs because of the excess sugar in the blood. This causes swelling in the blood vessels surrounding the eye, raising the blood pressure in that area. In time, new blood vessels will develop in the eye, and small capillaries may burst due to the pressure.

Left untreated, this condition also causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to areas where the nerve just isn't able to process any of the light it is receiving. Blurry vision, headaches, and dark spots are common at this stage.

What Are the Types of Diabetic Eye Disease?

In addition to diabetic retinopathy, many people with diabetes also develop cataracts or glaucoma. Both of these conditions also appear in people who aren't diabetic, but they're more likely in people who have elevated blood sugar levels.

Cataracts are often treatable, but glaucoma can cause significant loss of vision over time. It's not possible to get back the vision lost to glaucoma, so discovering the problem and treating it quickly is the right choice.

How Can Ophthalmology Help?

Doctors of ophthalmology are able to diagnose and treat diabetic eye diseases of all types. By working with professionals in that field you can get the latest treatments and reduce the chances of additional vision loss. Controlling blood sugar carefully can also help with reducing the damage from diabetic eye disease.

Get Assessed and Treated for Diabetic Eye Disease Today

Contact us today at Slingsby and Huot Eye Care Associates, if you're in the Rapid City, SD, area. We have outreach clinics in Pierre, Belle Fourche, and Spearfish, SD, as well as Chadron, NE, to provide more service and value to a higher number of patients.