Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Diabetic Eye Problems

Also called: Diabetic retinopathy

Do you know what causes the most blindness in U.S. adults? It is an eye problem caused by diabetes, called diabetic retinopathy. Your retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. You need a healthy retina to see clearly.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside your retina. You may not notice at first. Symptoms can include

* Blurry or double vision
* Rings, flashing lights or blank spots
* Dark or floating spots
* Pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes
* Trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

If you have diabetes, you should have a complete eye exam every year. Finding and treating problems early may save your vision. Treatment often includes laser treatment or surgery.

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