Diagnosis and Screening
Screening for diabetic eye disease is very important as it is easy to manage if diagnosed early and may just require regular check-ups. An assessment will involve a detailed examination with pupil dilation and OCT (ocular coherence tomography) scans. Other tests may be arranged including angiography which will be done in the practice.
Treatment
If more advanced, diabetic eye disease may require treatment with intravitreal injections, laser or sometimes surgery. The exact management plan depends on the individual and is usually a team effort which involves the general practitioner and diabetic specialists as appropriate. Treatment of diabetic macular oedema is often very effective and the outlook is good especially if blood sugar levels and other risk factors are controlled. Untreated or inadequately treated diabetic macular oedema can result in permanent visual loss so regular follow-up is recommended.
We recommend the Macula Disease Foundation and Vision Australia for more information. Click below.
