Care of your eyes is of paramount importance especially if you have type 1 or even type 2 diabetes whereupon additional measures should be taken. There are approximately 26 million diabetics living in the US who will all recommend that you have your eyes checked on a regular basis. Eye hospitals and ophthalmic surgeons are readily available to check your eyes. Such a practice in downtown Sarasota, Florida, is run by an eminent ophthalmic surgeon, board certified by the American Society of Ophthalmology. He is Dr Thomas Shane, M.D. 

Dr Shane’s practice which serves the greater area of Sarasota and Bradenton communities is extremely well known.  His experience and qualifications gained over his years of practice had led patients to come from as far afield as Massachusetts for eye surgery. His unparalleled experience in repairing detached retinas has brought diabetic patients from most US States. Dr Shane cannot emphasize enough that regular eye inspection is essential especially for diabetics.  Many diabetic patients have come to him for his expertise in diagnosis and repair in retinal detachment, which has left some patients virtually ‘blind.’

The intolerance of our body to combat blood sugar levels, and there are many reasons, but generally our inability to produce enough insulin can affect our eyes. It is also true then that our general health, and any bodily infections can cause harm to the eyes. In general, retinopathy, a chronic eye disease results from the damaging effects of poorly controlled blood sugar affecting the delicate blood vessels in the eye and leads to eventual blindness. This chronic disease has affected patients from as young as 20 to 64 years of age in the US. Badly swollen blood vessels caused by poorly controlled sugar levels which lead to high blood pressure can burst the blood vessels in the eye. Due to this effect, fluid becomes present behind the retina often causing retinal detachment and in some case blindness.

Dr Shane and his team who approach these patients with courtesy passion and respect have earned his practice a name and is known far and wide in many states. Using laser treatment, Dr Shane is able to repair these damaged retinas however diabetic patients are advised to visit the American academy of ophthalmology website for more information at: http://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/3/diabetic-retinopathy. Even these laser techniques cause irreversible burns on the retina and therefore diabetic patients are continually suffering from vision loss.

A new and advanced treatment for vision loss which include the developments in imaging technology is referred to as Optical Coherence Tomography or OTC. By using OTC imaging, surgeons or ophthalmologists have been able to visualize retinal changes in the eye resulting in earlier threatened retinopathy. There are also newer treatments which involve the injection into the retina to reduce swelling leaving no significant traces or burns as do the lasers.

Finally, and with the utmost dedication, diabetic patients must control their sugar levels very effectively and have vision and eye tests done on a frequent basis.