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 Diabetes, a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States affects all organ systems in our bodies.  Aside from raising blood sugar it is associated with small blood vessel disease which can lead to sores that fail to heal, especially in the lower extremities, kidney disease and high blood pressure, and visual disturbance which can to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common amongst diabetics and is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults under the age of 65. It is estimated that approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes will have some form of diabetic retinopathy five to ten years after their symptoms develop. It is important to keep blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. This drastically reduces the risk of developing retinopathy.  But, your best protection against retinopathy is having your eyes examined regularly, with photography when you are first diagnosed and then every year.

Diabetes, a major cause of blindness in the United States has reached epidemic proportions.  In this blog Dr. Zweibel discusses screening and treatment options.

 It is estimated that approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes will have some form of diabetic retinopathy five to ten years after their symptoms develop. If diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, the prognosis is good. Early stage diabetic retinopathy can usually be treated by bringing your diabetes under better control. Diabetic retinopathy is a common amongst diabetics and is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults under the age of 65. At North Shore Eye Care we see many patients with many diseases including diabetes and it is important for all diabetics to have their eyes checked regularly. 

Here at North Shore Eye Care, all of our board certified physicians Dr Sidney Martin, Dr Larry Zweibel, Dr Jeff Martin and Dr John Mauro, all are experienced in the proper screening, diagnosis and treatment of many eye diseases. This includes: glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, macular degeneration, dry eye syndrome, uveitis, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, allergies, emergency eye problems and general eye examinations. In addition, we are one of Long Island's leading authorities in laser refractive surgery (LASIK/PRK/LASEK). In Long Island (suffolk and nassau counties), we see patients from smithtown, nesconset, saint james, kings park, cold spring harbor, huntington, commack, northport, dix hills, melville, centerport, greenlawn, plainview, woodbury, syosset, massapequa, sayville, manhasset, jericho, muttontown, east meadow, merrick, rockville center, garden city, mineola, roslyn, manhasset, levittown, new york city, brooklyn, bronx, queens, and many other towns.

Diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce adequate  insulin or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that breaks down glucose (sugar) so that it can be used by the body. The body's problem with in not making enough insulin causes the level of glucose in the blood to rise. This can cause a wide range of complications, including retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. People with diabetes are at risk of developing a complication called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels supplying the retina – the seeing part of the eye.  The vessels in the retina of the eye can become blocked, start to leak and/or grow abnormally like weeds.   This damage eventually can lead to permanent damage to the retina if left untreated.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common amongst diabetics and is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults under the age of 65. It is estimated that approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes will have some form of diabetic retinopathy five to ten years after their symptoms develop. If diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, the prognosis is good. Early stage diabetic retinopathy can usually be treated by bringing your diabetes under better control. More advanced diabetic retinopathy can require medical and/or laser surgery to prevent further damage to the eyes.

It is important to keep blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. This drastically reduces the risk of developing retinopathy.  But, your best protection against retinopathy is having your eyes examined regularly, with photography when you are first diagnosed and then every year.

At North Shore Eye Care, our board certified eye doctors, Dr. S. Martin, Dr. Zweibel, Dr. J. Martin, and Dr. Mauro see many patients with diabetes.  In Long Island (Suffolk and Nassau Counties), we see patients from smithtown, nesconset, saint james, kings park, centereach, selden, coram, middle island, riverhead, ridge, stony brook, setauket, port jefferson, shoreham, wading river, miller place, mt sinai, rocky point, patchogue, medford, farmingdale, farmingville, bellport, bayport, blue point, yaphank, brookhaven, shirley, mastic, moriches, manorville, calverton, jamesport, cutchogue, mattituck, southold, eastport, westhampton, east hampton, southampton, sag harbor, montauk, amagansett, hampton bays, kings park, islandia, islip, hauppauge, lake grove, bohemia, ronkonkoma, holtsville, holbrook, sayville, commack, stony brook, setauket, port jefferson, nissequogue, head of the harbor, old field, poquott, belle terre, fort salonga huntington,  northport, cold spring harbor, dix hills, melville, deer park, centerport, greenlawn, plainview woodbury, syosset, bethpage, massapequa, lindenhurst, sayville, bay shore, babylon, roslyn, great neck, manhasset, east meadow, merrick, rockville center, garden city, mineola, and many other towns including queens, brooklyn, manhattan.