Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that can affect the blood vessels of the body, including the eyes. When diabetes affects the eyes it is called diabetic retinopathy. This disease can develop in those who exhibit either Type I or Type II diabetes. Diabetes can cause the tiny blood vessels of the eye to become weak and in some instances these vessels bleed or leak, leading to a decrease in vision. It is important for individuals with diabetes to have yearly dilated eye exams to monitor the health of the eyes closely. Diabetics are also encouraged to work closely with their primary care physician to ensure good blood sugar control. For more information please visit http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/eye-complications.jsp.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease whose symptoms may not be noticed until irreversible vision loss has already occurred. It is generally caused by increased fluid pressure in the eye, which can eventually lead to damage of the optic nerve. Regular vision exams allow the pressure in the eye as well as the appearance of the optic nerve to be closely monitored. With early treatment vision loss and damage to the optic nerve due to glaucoma can b prevented. For more information please visit http://www.glaucoma.org/.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration occurs as a result of the degeneration of the macula, the portion of the retina that provides the central and sharpest part of the vision. Macular degeneration can be classified as either dry or wet, depending on whether there is new blood vessel growth. The dry type is the more common and lease severe, where the wet type is less common but does lead to more severe vision loss. For more information please visit http://www.eyesight.org/.