Eye
Sight Examination
How can diabetes
affect the eye?
Your eye has a lens and an
aperture (opening ) at the front, which adjust to bring object
into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina is
made up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to light, rather
like the film in a camera.
At the center of the retina is the macula which
is a small area about the size of a pinhead. This is the most
highly specialised part of the retina and it is vital because
it enables you to see fine detail and read small print. The other
parts of the retina give you side vision (peripheral vision).
Filling the cavity of the eye in front of the retina is a clear
jelly-like substance called the vitreous humour.
Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of ways.
These usually involves the fine network of blood vessels in the
retina - hence the term diabetic retinopathy.
The importance of early
treatment
Although your vision may be
good, changes can be taking place to your retina that need treatment.
And because most sight loss in diabetes is preventable: