Diabetic Retinopathy

Regular eye exams improve quality of life, but how often do you need an eye exam? No one wants to waste time and money on unnecessary vision screenings and exams. On the other hand, eye exams can catch minor problems before they become major problems.

Many eye problems have subtle symptoms or no symptoms at all.
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A preliminary study may point to blood sugar variability as an independent risk factor for diabetic neuropathy. Although the study involved only 40 adult patients, this type of research may emphasize the importance of leveling out blood sugar readings. Diabetic neuropathy is permanent nerve damage caused by sugar in the blood vessels. This condition can damage any nerves in the body. When high blood sugar damages the optic nerve in the eyes, it is called “diabetic retinopathy.”
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How can you save your vision regardless of your age? Eye disease is prevalent in seniors; however, people of all ages can take steps to protect their eyes. Here is Natural Eye Care’s guide to preserving the precious gift of sight.

At All Ages

Wear Sunglasses: The earth’s atmosphere has thinned, exposing our eyes to more ultraviolet light whenever we are outdoors. Wear 100% UVA/UVB protecting sunglasses when you are outside in the
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Studies on mice at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) may lead to an injection that cures Type II Diabetes. This metabolic disorder affects overweight and obese people, due to insulin resistance. The body needs more and more insulin to maintain steady blood sugar, and the pancreas cannot keep up. Diabetes can lead to eye disease in the form of diabetic retinopathy. The chances of developing floaters, cataracts, nerve damage, and glaucoma are higher. Diabetes also causes stroke, amputations, coma, and even death.

The researchers, led by Professor Fátima Bosch, introduced into the mice a gene that creates the FGF21 protein
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The eyes are small, but they have many parts including the eyelids, sclera, cornea, lens, optic nerve and retina. We depend heavily on our vision. When something goes wrong, the eyes are disproportionately affected. For example, a senior at risk of heart disease is also at risk of an ocular arterial or vein occlusion. Also, the macula requires a yellow-colored nutrient (lutein and zeaxanthin) found in certain vegetables such as green leafy vegetables, red, yellow and green peppers, corn and eggs. And antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce oxidative eye damage and eye disease.
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People who have advanced eye disease have waited too long to improve their vision health. Keeping the eyes health is a lifetime endeavor. An unhealthy lifestyle and poor nutrition lead to a higher risk of eye diseases. Researchers have linked cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, optic neuropathy, retinal vein occlusions, and other eye conditions to mostly-controllable risk factors. Seniors are especially at risk. Natural Eye Care offers this guide to improving vision health.
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Have you ever heard that your eyes need plenty of nutrition? It’s true, and research backs this up. But did you know that the Standard American Diet tends to be very low in some eye-essential nutrients? The eyes are the second most physiologically active part of our body (#1 is the brain). At Natural Eye Care, we believe the eyes require approximately 25% of the nutrients we take into our body, if we eat a healthy diet. Even though most Americans consume enough calories, we may still have poor nutrition for the eyes. No wonder Macular Degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve
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What is this new buzzword “glycation”? When sugars bind with protein molecules, aging apparently accelerates.

Doctors are starting to offer the hemoglobin A1c blood test to more patients because tissue glycation is suspected of accelerating aging. This simple blood test was typically reserved for diabetics. However, research is pointing to its usefulness for all ageing individuals. The test results are good indicators of poor blood sugar control, disease risk, and longevity.

Glycation is the binding together of sugar and protein molecules. A visible result of glycation is
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Sunlight is critical for overall well-being.  Through an intricate process it enables the body to produce essential vitamin D.  We only need 20 minutes of sunlight a day.  But sunlight also contains UV radiation.

Unprotected over exposure to sunlight can eventually result in oxidative damage to the retina and other eye tissue such as the eye lens and sclera causing many eye problems as well as skin cancer. You can help protect your eyes by wearing 100% UVA/UVB protecting sunglasses when outside (particularly wraparound glasses with amber or brown lenses that are polarized to reduce glare).
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A macular pucker is most common in seniors. A slow-progressing problem, the epiretinal membrane is like a layer of thin plastic wrap. Sometimes when this membrane contracts in seniors, it causes wrinkling of the retina. The symptoms include central vision distortion and blurring. Macular swelling may also ensue.

Doctors have limited options for treating macular pucker. Wait-and-see and using the Amsler grid for screening are common. Doctors may recommend vitrectomy surgery for profound vision loss.
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