diabetic laser los angeles

Diabetic Eye Disease - What you should know

Diabetic Laser

At the East West Eye Institute, our Eye MDs are trained in advanced laser treatment of diabetic eye disease and we have helped thousands of patients preserve their vision utilizing this technology.

Diabetic retinopathy, a form of diabetic eye disease that affects the retina, can lead to fluid leakage in the macula (area of the retina responsible for sharp central vision). This leakage in the macular region is known as macular edema and is the most common cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. This leakage if caught early can often be reversed by appropriate laser therapy, thus helping to preserve and often improve central vision.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a relatively advanced form of diabetic eye disease in which there is a proliferation of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. These abnormal blood vessels are dangerous because they can lead to bleeding within the eye, severe forms of glaucoma and even retinal detachment. All of which can lead to rapid and permanent loss of vision. When diabetic eye disease advances to this stage, laser treatment is needed to halt the damage. Multiple laser treatments over time are sometimes necessary.

Our lasers are on site, and therefore necessary treatment can be instituted almost immediately, often with minimal to no down time for the patient.

Laser treatment has been shown to reduce the chance of severe vision loss and blindness in severe diabetic retinopathy. This surgery does not cure diabetic retinopathy nor does it restore vision that has already been lost, but it can help to prevent future vision loss, especially if diabetes or blood pressure is controlled.

Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against loss of vision. You can significantly lower your risk of vision loss by maintaining strict control of your blood sugar and visiting the Eye MDs and optometrists of the East West Eye Institute regularly.

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