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Laser Eye Surgery for Diabetic Eye Disease – What You Need to Know


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As researchers continue to find new treatments and options for those suffering from diabetes, poor eye health is just one of the many complications of the disease. Diabetic eye disease affects over half of the diabetic population, a condition that can severely impact vision and the health of the eye and lead to several other health problems. Diminishing vision, cataracts, and poor blood vessel structure are all signs of diabetic eye disease, and more advanced degeneration can lead to a condition known as diabetic retinopathy that eventually leads to complete vision loss.  

Both Type I and Type II patients are at risk for developing diabetic eye disease, but laser eye surgery can be performed to dramatically improve vision and correct vision problems from escalating. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be a good candidate for laser eye surgery.  

Key Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery for Diabetic Eye Disease  

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of diabetic eye disease or just want to find out how laser eye surgery can help improve your vision, consider these key benefits of the procedure:  

Treating glaucoma; according to the National Eye Institute, people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma throughout their lifetime. Laser eye surgery can help to treat this condition and provide dramatic improvements for the eyes.

Treating cataracts – cataracts are another problem for people with diabetes, and can develop 10 – 20 years earlier than a healthy person. Cataracts can be treated with surgery, and will help to improve vision problems immediately.

Improving blood flow to the eye – one of the symptoms of diabetic eye disease is diabetic retinopathy, a condition that results from rapid changes in the blood vessels of the eye.  Abnormal blood vessels can also be treated with laser eye surgery, and present several benefits for those who have diabetic eye disease and other blood circulation problems

Accurate and targeted vision correction – since most people with diabetic eye disease experience sudden vision loss, the change can be difficult to adjust to.  Laser eye surgery can provide instant results to restore healthy vision and reduces the chances of further vision loss as the diabetes progresses.

Stopping the risk of severe vision loss – laser eye surgery can help shrink abnormal blood vessels and reduce the risk of vision loss that is common with diabetic retinopathy patients.   

How Laser Eye Surgery Corrects Vision in Diabetic Patients  

Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy an cataracts are the main eye problems that affect those with diabetes, and if left untreated, can lead to severe and complete vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is the advanced stage of diabetic eye disease, but laser eye surgery can be the ultimate solution for correcting this problem. LASIK isn’t the only option for diabetic patients; the initial consultation will determine which type of laser eye surgery is best for you. Today’s innovative technologies and options include:  

  • Custom Wavefront
  • Epi-Lasik
  • Other refractive surgery procedures  

Other Ways to Control Diabetic Eye Disease  

Experts from the American Diabetes Association and National Institutes of Health encourage diabetic patients to make specific lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of diabetes symptoms and prevent severe vision loss. A few key ways to improve the lifestyle include:  

  • Eating a well-balanced, sugar-controlled diet
  • Getting regular eye exams to ensure that your sight is not diminishing or undergoing dramatic changes
  • Keep blood pressure levels within a healthy range
  • Get screened for cataracts and glaucoma regularly – at least once per year  

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t have to wait until the symptoms of diabetic eye disease begin to interfere with your life before getting help. Since you are already at risk for developing glaucoma, cataracts and other vision problems, a consultation with your doctor and vision specialist can help you improve eye health before any problems begin.   

Learn more about LASIK and other vision correction procedures in our information guide, or consult with a vision correction doctor in your area to find out if you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery.

Published: 05/16/2008, Last Updated: 08/23/2008

By LocateADoc.com Medical Staff Writers

Our writers strive to present an objective, upfront and open view of the medical procedures you're interested in. We present you with both the good and bad, and work to represent both doctors' and patients' points of view. Our articles contain facts and statistics from medical associations, medical and surgical journals, and through doctor and patient interviews.





LASIK Eye Surgery Surgery Information Guide

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Related Subjects and Keywords: laser eye surgery  diabetes  vision correction  LASIK  LASEK  custom wavefront  prk  epi-lasik 


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