Author: Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons

Diabetes impacts almost all the functions of the human body in some form or another. All organ systems that require blood sugar can be affected including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart, nerves, and of course, vision. Diabetic retinopathy is just one of the diabetes-related complications that can harm the eye and thus vision. 

Diabetes inhibits the body from properly using and storing sugar, leaving excessive amounts of sugar in the bloodstream. This can cause damage to blood vessels and various parts of the body mentioned above including eye structures and functions. 

What is Diabetic Retinopathy? 

Diabetic retinopathy can occur in someone who has either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The longer a patient has diabetes and the less controlled the blood sugar is, the more likely one is to develop this eye complication.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when long term diabetes or uncontrolled blood sugar results in progressive damage to the retina at the back of the eye. The retina is a light-sensitive tissue that is essential for vision. Left untreated, diabetic retinopathy will eventually cause blindness. 

Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

While many diabetics may not experience any symptoms at the outset of this condition, some do notice spots or dark strings floating in the line of vision. These are called floaters and are common in many people with and without diabetes so it is not an accurate way to diagnose the disorder. 

However, if a patient is experiencing floaters and other symptoms, it may be time to take action. Other symptoms may include: blurred vision, fluctuating vision, impaired color vision, poor night vision, dark or empty areas in the line of vision, and/or difficulty reading or seeing close objects. 

Ignoring these symptoms can be a mistake. Untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to a detached retina, further blood vessel damage, and/or blindness. 

When to See a Doctor

If you have diabetes, you should be consulting your primary care physician on a regular basis to monitor your blood sugar and to keep a watchful eye on potential complications including eye conditions. 

Your physician will most likely recommend an annual eye exam where the eyes will be dilated in order to take a look at the blood vessels on the retina. If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms, you should alert your eye doctor and schedule an exam. 

The good news is that many of the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, particularly if they are caught in the early stages of vision loss, can be reversed with proper treatment and control of blood sugar levels. Talking to your eye doctor about the state of your vision will help halt the progression of this condition, especially if you notice the early symptoms listed above. 

Are you having trouble with your vision? Do images seem cloudy or not as sharp as they once were? Is driving at night difficult due to halos or glare around headlights? You may be one of the millions of people over the age of 40 in the U.S. who have developed cataracts.

Cataracts are actually a fairly common eye disorder that can be treated. This condition is characterized by the clouding of the eye’s lens – the transparent film that focuses the images as seen by the eye on the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. The symptoms usually increase as one ages and as proteins collect on the lens and form abnormal “clumps.” 

What is the Cause of Cataracts? 

The lens is naturally made up of proteins and water. As you age, the rate of protein breakdown in your body accelerates, causing these protein clumps that we see during an eye exam. The clumps are then seen as cloudy patches by the patient. Some of the contributing factors to the development of cataracts include smoking, eye trauma, chronic diabetes, radiation treatments, and corticosteroid medications. 

What Are the Symptoms of Cataracts? 

Many people who have cataracts don’t even know that they have developed them in one or both eyes. Since cataracts are painless and tend to worsen over time, it is common for someone to have a cataract for months (even years) before an eye exam identifies the problem. Most patients complain that their vision has seemed clouded or that night driving has become increasingly more difficult due to halos or glare. For others, colors may seem faded or they may experience double vision as the cataract increases in size. 

How Are Cataracts Treated? 

The good news is that cataracts can be treated through outpatient surgery. In the beginning stages of the disorder, your eye doctor may at first merely suggest stronger prescription glasses, magnifying lenses, or anti-glare glasses to improve your sight, especially at night. As cataracts grow in size, however, you may want to consider surgery to improve your vision dramatically. 

While the severity of your vision impairment will be a determining factor as to whether you should consider the surgery, many find that the actual laser procedure is fairly simple and is done daily in surgical centers around the country. 

This type of surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. The cataract surgeons at Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons are highly skilled, experienced ophthalmologists who have been trained in advanced techniques using modern technology. Using some of the finest intraocular lenses (IOLs) available, these Boston cataract surgery specialists extract clouded lenses and replace them with state-of-the-art IOLs, such as Crystalens, that can also correct problems with near and distance vision. In return, many patients experience better vision than before they developed cataracts. The procedure often takes no longer than 10 minutes once the patient is sedated. Then, you will recover for 30 minutes or so and be taken home with a pair of dark sunglasses to protect your eyes from bright light. 

Cataract surgery is a relatively safe, painless procedure that produces crystal-clear vision. Contact our office today to begin your journey toward restored eyesight.

How long do you spend looking at your computer screen every day? Or your smartphone? Or your tablet? Add in television and gaming system time and you or your family members may end up suffering from symptoms of Digital Eye Strain. 

According to research published on PC Magazine online, the average adult spends 5.9 hours per day with digital media, up from 3 hours a day since 2009. That means hour after hour of time that your eyes and the related muscles are becoming strained. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon and how you can reduce the impact on your and your family’s health. 

What is Digital Eye Strain and Its Symptoms? 

Digital eye strain is the temporary discomfort that follows after two or more hours spent using a digital device. The strain can occur from switching back and forth from one digital device to another. For example, many adults and children spend copious amounts of time working on projects on their laptops or desktops only to switch to recreational activities on their gaming system, smartphone, or television. The symptoms can include red, dry, or irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, back, neck, and shoulder pain, and headaches. 

What Causes the Eye Strain?

These symptoms are not really caused by one thing but rather many issues that are related to digital use. Digital devices often feature small print and pixelated images that can be difficult to read and cause our eyes to strain in order to focus. We may also be using the devices improperly by holding them at the wrong angle or too far away from our eyes.  Blue light, also referred to as high-energy visible (HEV) light, is another cause of computer eye strain.

Preventing Digital Eye Strain 

For many of us, avoiding too many hours of digital tech use is not in the cards, whether it is due to school or work or just a desire to maintain a certain lifestyle. In order to reduce or prevent eye strain, there are a few things you can do on your own. 

One of the best things you can do to prevent eye strain is to take frequent breaks, meaning get up and take a quick walk away from whatever device you are using. Pay attention to your body. Many people tend to lose track of time and suddenly realize their neck, back, or head is achy. Also, try to keep your devices at least an arm’s length away from you, although this may be difficult with small print or graphics that are hard to see. 

Another prevention technique that many people find helpful is to reduce screen glare by dimming the overhead lighting in the room. This may mean shutting off other lights in the surrounding area. Some users find that increasing the text size helps as well. 

As eye doctors, we would be remiss if we did not mention computer glasses as another option to alleviate digital eye strain. Talk to our doctors at Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons if you are suffering from the symptoms of Digital Eye Strain.