What You Should Know About...
Medical Treatment of Diabetic Eye Disease

If you are a diabetic, you are the best medicine for diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease.  The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that control of blood sugar levels delays the start and progression of diabetic retinopathy.  The same study showed that people who did better in controlling their blood sugar also had less kidney and nerve disease.

Other studies have shown that controlling blood pressure and cholesterol also reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy.  So, you really do have the ability to delay onset and progression of diabetic eye diseases by effectively managing your diabetes.

Currently, there are no medications or eye drops that you can take to specifically treat diabetic eye disease.  Therefore, maintaining your overall health is an important part of protecting your vision.  The National Diabetes Information Clearing House (NDIC) recommends that you follow these steps to staying healthy:

By keeping your blood sugar levels and blood pressure as close to normal as possible, and by having a dilated eye examination once a year, you’ll be doing your part to protect your vision.

Overview of Diabetic Eye Disease
Medical Treatment for Diabetic Eye Disease
Laser Treatment for Diabetic Eye Disease
Therapeutic Injections for Diabetic Eye Disease
Surgical Treatment for Diabetic Eye Disease