Diabetes is when the body has difficulty regulating blood sugar levels. This can affect the small blood vessels in the retina.
Around 1 in 25 people in the UK has diabetes and in a third of cases this can impact the eye. This is known as Diabetic Retinopathy.
If you have diabetes, your GP or specialist clinic will arrange for you to have a retinal screening every year. It is also important if you know you have diabetes to monitor any changes to your overall health.
High blood sugar levels can cause damage to small blood vessels in your retina, this is called diabetic retinopathy. If you keep your blood sugar under control, you lower your chances of any loss of vision due to damage to these blood vessels.
When the macula (the part of the retina responsible for your central vision) is affected, you are said to have diabetic maculopathy. This means that your central vision, which is required for seeing fine detail and colour, will be blurred. This will make things like reading, writing, and seeing detail difficult.
If there is a leakage of fluid from the blood vessels near the macula, this fluid can build up and cause swelling known as diabetic macular oedema.
SpaMedica offer treatment for cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which you may be at greater risk of if you have diabetes. Several of our hospitals offer treatment for diabetic macular oedema in the form of Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections:
Anti-VEGF injections are used to reduce swelling and prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. These injections help to stabilise vision and, in some cases, improve it. This might sound daunting, but you won’t feel any pain, as you’ll be given anaesthetic eye drops to numb the eye beforehand.
It can be upsetting to be diagnosed with a diabetic eye condition, and it’s normal to find yourself worrying about the future and how you will manage with a change in your vision. Most of the eye problems caused by diabetes can be treated, but it is vital that these problems are picked up as soon as possible, as treatment is more effective when given early.
Based on your individual condition, our clinicians will create a personalised treatment plan which consists of three phases.
This service is currently offered at: Birmingham, Cambridge, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Colchester, Coventry, Gateshead, Newark, North Tyneside, Peterborough, Romford, Skelmersdale, Solihull, Stockton-on-Tees, Swansea