Diabetes and the Retina — How diabetes shows up at the back of the eye

At Eyecare Center of Orange County, Dr. Alexander Bonakdar has cared for patients for more than three decades. Trained at Bascom Palmer, board certified, and trusted by more than ten thousand Orange County patients since nineteen ninety one.

Over time, high blood sugar weakens the tiny blood vessels that feed the retina. They begin to leak, or close off completely, long before vision changes.

When the retina is starved of blood it grows fragile new vessels. Those vessels bleed. This stage threatens your sight and needs treating quickly.

Vision is a poor warning system here. You can have advanced disease and still read the chart perfectly. Only looking inside the eye tells us the real stage.

Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure steady sharply reduces the risk of this progressing. It is the single biggest lever you hold.

Ask us how often you should be examined. The right interval depends on what we find in your eyes, not on a fixed rule.