Diabetes
An eye condition known as diabetic retinopathy is one
of the most common complications associated with diabetes, and is the leading
cause of blindness among working-age Americans. By taking care of yourself,
you can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetic eye disease.
There are often no symptoms of early diabetic
retinopathy. Dr. Cravey can tell you if you show signs of diabetic eye
disease by looking at the inside of the eye with a special instrument called
an ophthalmoscope. Since diabetic retinopathy often causes no symptoms even
in advanced cases it is extremely important to have a yearly dilated eye
exam. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated, and vision loss prevented if it is
caught early enough.
If Dr. Cravey finds that you have diabetic
retinopathy, you may need to have special photos of your retina taken. This
series of photos is called fluorescein angiography. When you have fluorescein
angiography, a yellow dye is injected into your arm which then passes through
the blood vessels in your retina. This makes it easier to see the blood
vessels in the photos.
Diabetic retinopathy may be treated with laser
photocoagulation or with vitrectomy. If this is necessary, rest assured that
Dr. Cravey and his staff at Kerrville Eye Center, P.A. will educate you on the
procedure so that you are comfortable with the treatment plan.
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