Diabetes

Diabetes is a major health concern for the western world.  It affects all parts of the body, especially, areas with a lot of micro-circulation, like the eye or the kidney.  If uncontrolled, it can result in blindness. 

With diabetes, the cells of the body have difficulty taking in blood sugars and in some cases, can’t take them in at all.  One of the devastating results of this is blood vessel leakage, which may result in extensive hemorrhaging. The eye is damaged when the vessels leak fluid and blood into the retinal layers.  It can result in permanent severe vision loss from scarring.

Prevention
Most diabetes is Type II and the main cause is obesity.  Being active by exercising and watching calorie intake can reduce the risk and even alleviate it.  Some people inherit diabetes, and in spite of preventative measures, have difficulty controlling it.  Medication helps to improve glucose uptake and regular monitoring of the blood for glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin aid in keeping the diabetes under control.  Daily regulation of sugar, calorie intake and metabolism help to control blood sugar levels.  Regular eye exams are critical to ensure that the eyes remain healthy.  Fortunately, the Ontario Ministry of Health covers any diabetic patient, regardless of age, for these regular visits.

At Burlington Eyecare, we use DIGITAL FUNDUS PHOTOGRAPHY to monitor the condition and we can do OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY to check for any fluid build up in and around the macula.