Alan D. Mendelsohn, MD, FACS
Expert Laser Cataract Surgeon
Eye Surgeons & Consultants
4651 Sheridan Street,
Suite #100
Hollywood, FL 33021
(954) 894-1500
Diabetes is a disease that affects blood vessels throughout the body, with the vessels in the kidneys and eyes being particularly hard hit. Retinal blood vessels are predisposed to leaking blood, called diabetic retinopathy, or fluid, called diabetic maculopathy. Either type of leakage will cause a decrease in vision. When this leakage in diabetics is severe or prolonged, it may cause a profound loss of vision with, at times, a permanent visual impairment. Dr. Klein and I will perform a dilated eye exam, OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), and Optomap which maps out the entire back of the eye with ultra precision to detect diabetic eye disease, even at its most incipient stages. The stellar ultra-widefield view of the eye enables the detection and management of disease in a variety of areas including diabetic retinopathy, and maculopathy, thereby facilitating early protection from vision impairment or blindness.
On a weekly basis, while performing a comprehensive eye exam, we will detect diabetic retinopathy and/or maculopathy in individuals who are totally unaware that they even have diabetes.
If the diabetic retinopathy becomes advanced, new, abnormal blood vessels grow into the retina posing as a perilous situation requiring prompt treatment. These abnormal blood vessels can bleed profusely into the retina, or into the vitreous gel in front of the retina, causing a precipitous large blind spot or substantial loss of vision. Worse yet, the new vessels also may damage the retina by forming scar tissue and precipitate a retinal detachment, leading to blindness if left untreated. We fervently believe that all diabetics should be examined at six-month intervals because everyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy and/or maculopathy. We specialize in diabetic eye disease, treating about 1,000 diabetics in the practice, being extremely proud of our track record of preserving excellent vision in our diabetics!
