Common Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, and Retinal Detachment – Premier Eye Care for Los Angeles and Orange County
The eye is like a camera. The front structures are like the lens of a camera and lining the inside of the back of the eye is the film of the camera, called the RETINA. The retina has many blood vessels which can be damaged by diabetes (DIABETIC RETINOPATHY) and high blood pressure (RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSIONS). The central portion of the retina is called the MACULA. In some people the macula breaks down or degenerates during aging, causing MACULAR DEGENERATION. The space between the lens and the retina is filled with a gel called VITREOUS.
There are certain symptoms that should not be ignored, because early diagnosis and prompt therapy at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach can prevent blindness.
Distortions
Distortions could indicate a problem in the MACULA, the center of the retina. If you close one eye and look at something that should be straight, like the edge of a door, blinds on a window, or the grid shown below, you should not see distortions.
The sudden onset of distortions in an elderly person could be due to MACULAR DEGENERATION. In a middle-aged person, the sudden onset of distortions could be the results of a MACULAR HOLE or fluid in the macula from various sources, including diabetic retinopathy. Distortions should be evaluated at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach, where new tests are being developed in conjunction with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, and USC which will detect distortions sooner and more accurately. This will enable prompt therapy at the VMR Institute, which is always more effective.
Floaters
Floaters arise from the gel structure that fills the center of the eye, known as vitreous. At birth and during youth, the vitreous is a solid, clear gel (see photo).
During aging, the gel turns to liquid with strands of aggregated collagen. When the gel vitreous is highly liquefied, it can no longer fill the center of the eye and it collapses, pulling away from the retina. This causes the sensation of dark, linear, hair-like or fly-like images that move with eye movement, causing a floating sensation. Floaters are sudden and most noticeable in bright light situations, especially when looking at the sky or a bright white surface. There is a risk that when the vitreous separates from the retina it will damage the retina.
Flashing Lights
If vitreous pulls on the retina while it pulls away, it can rip the retina. If you experience flashing lights that are linear (not speck-like), arc-shaped, and situated off to the side, you are at risk of a RETINAL TEAR, especially if the flashing lights are triggered by turning the head or moving the eyes back and forth. Flashing lights should be evaluated immediately, since a torn retina can be repaired with an office procedure, avoiding the need for hospital surgery.
Dark Curtain
A torn retina can allow fluid to enter the space behind the retina and lift it off the back of the eye, called a RETINAL DETACHMENT. The result is the sudden onset of peripheral (off to the side) vision loss seen as a curtain or darkness with a curved demarcation line. On the inside of the line, vision is normal. On the outside of the line, everything is gray or dark. To preserve central vision, this must be promptly evaluated and treated at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach.
Diabetic Retinopathy
A complication of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in this country. At the VMR Institute, we treat countless numbers of people suffering from diabetic retinopathy in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina. These fragile vessels can begin to leak blood into the center of the eye and blur vision. Fluid can also leak into the macula, causing it to swell and affect vision. Abnormal blood vessels can grow into the vitreous and rupture. This causes floaters which appear as many small specks (red blood cells) and if there is a large amount of blood, there can be sudden vision loss.
It is important to diagnose diabetic retinopathy in its early stages so that therapy can be instituted and blindness can be prevented. In contrast to other symptoms described on this page, diabetic retinopathy can go unnoticed for years. It is therefore important that residents of Los Angeles and Orange Counties with a long history of diabetes, especially poorly-controlled diabetes, should schedule a consultation at the VMR Institute in Huntington Beach.
The modern diagnostic tests that are available at the VMR Institute can detect diabetic retinopathy at early stages. New tests are being developed in collaboration with NASA and USC. Contact our Huntington Beach office near Los Angeles and Orange County to learn more.
Retinal Detachment
The retina lines the inside of the back of the eye and acts like a film in camera. A break in the retina, often associated with floaters and flashing lights, allows fluid to accumulate behind the retina and detach the retina away from its main source of nutrition and oxygen. At the VMR Institute, we commonly diagnose and treat patients with retinal detachment. Our Huntington Beach office in Orange County and near Los Angeles offers state-of-the-art treatment not available at many other eye centers.
There are three main causes for retinal detachment:
- Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment – caused by a retinal tear or breaks which allow fluid to leak and detach the retina. This is the most common cause of retinal detachment.
- Exudative retinal detachment – leakage from underneath the retina. Medical conditions such as inflammatory diseases and tumors can cause this type of detachment.
- Traction retinal detachment – involves pulling of the retina from fibro-vascular tissue. Commonly caused by diabetic retinopathy.
Don’t ignore the symptoms of retinal detachment. Treatment options are available at our Huntington Beach office near Los Angeles and Orange County. Signs of retinal detachment can include:
- Sudden vision loss
- Seeing flashes of light
- A curtain of darkness or grayness encroaching from the periphery
If you think you might be suffering from retinal detachment and you live in the Huntington Beach, Los Angeles or Orange County area, contact the VMR Institute today.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration, sometimes referred to as AMD (age-related macular degeneration), is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 65. Unfortunately, many of our Los Angeles and Orange County area patients are not diagnosed with macular degeneration until the advanced stages of the disease, as progression tends to be slow and patients often ignore the initial warning signs.
Macular degeneration causes a slow deterioration of the macula, the portion of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. AMD is more prevalent in Caucasian females and it seems to be associated with the presence of a variant gene, hypertension, and smoking.
Our office near Los Angeles treats many patients with macular degeneration. Common symptoms include:
- Distorted images
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty reading
As our elderly population grows, so does the prevalence of vision loss due to AMD. While there is no cure for macular degeneration, our office near Los Angeles and Orange County offers treatments that can significantly slow the progression of the disease. However, early detection is key, so at the VMR Institute we have assembled an impressive array of modern technologies that enable accurate diagnosis and prompt therapy, usually on the same day. Contact the VMR Institute to learn more about macular degeneration screenings.
To learn more about symptoms and available treatments for eye disease, including macula degeneration, retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy, contact Orange County's VMR Institute.
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VMR Institute
7677 Center Avenue,
Suite 400
Huntington Beach, CA 92647