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Volume 1 • Issue 1 • April/08
Eye Wonder
More Eye Wonder
A Pat i e n t E d u c at i o n Pa m p h l e t
Craig Berger, M.D. • Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Diabetic Retinopathy
The EYE is like a
Information provided by David Eichenbaum, MD
Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida • (727) 323-0077
D
iabetes is a disease typified by high
blood sugar. High blood sugars
damage the smallest blood vessels
throughout the body and problems
arise where these
blood vessels are
important. Some
of the symptoms
diabetics
may
experience are
tingling or pain
at the tips of the
toes and fingers,
high
blood
pressure
from
kidney disease,
and blurry vision from damage to the tiny
blood vessels in your eye. The structure
in your eye most vulnerable to diabetic
small blood vessel disease is the retina.
Scientific studies have shown that the
progression of diabetic retinopathy
can be dramatically slowed with tight
blood glucose control. However, even
with excellent sugar control,
there is often residual retinal
damage
from
previous
periods of high blood sugar.
T
here are many treatments
for
diabetic
retinal
disease. Lasers can treat many
manifestations of diabetes
and are performed in retina
specialty clinics. For more
severe diabetic retinal disease,
injections of medications
and retinal surgery are considered. The
most important first steps in diabetic
eye care are tight control of blood sugar
and committing to regular dilated eye
exams. All manifestations of diabetic
s retinal blood vessels become retinal disease have better outcomes
damaged through high blood sugar when they are diagnosed and treated
levels, swelling of retinal tissue, bleeding early in their course.
into the fluid-filled cavity of the eye, and
Answers:
A K W I M L E N S
detachment of the retina can occur.
N T C A R A T A C
1. F
6. F
These specific problems can manifest as 2. F
I L
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P U P D F T
7. T
T R Z A P R T T S
blurry areas or severe floaters clouding 3. T
8. F
E Q B L
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T D I W
R Q C F
J B N P S
the vision. The best way to avoid diabetic 4. F
9. T
G S
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L D P C
retinal disease is to control blood sugars. 5. F 10. T E M M C O R N E A
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• Bay Area Eye Institute •
15511 N. Florida Avenue #A1 • Tampa, Florida 33613
(813) 265-6940 • www.CraigBergerMD.com
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CAMERA
he eye functions much like a camera. Suppose you are
going to take a picture of your spouse. Light rays bounce
off your spouse. The image which is composed of light rays
travels through the camera and is focused (brought to a
point) by the lens on the camera. If the image is in focus,
the light rays strike the film producing a sharp image. If for
some reason the lens is dirty, scratched, or is out of focus, the
image is blurred or distorted. You then
drop the film off at the store
to be developed. If you
have a working camera,
good film and correct
focus, an hour later
you have a clear
picture of your
loved one.
Dr. Berger’s practice
focuses on patient
satisfaction. Our
philosophy is to put the
patient first, provide
physical and emotional
comfort, and strive for
the highest care possible.
Your time and comfort
are paramount. Dr.
Berger feels that patient
education is an important
aspect of your treatment
and will take the time
to explain your ocular
condition(s).
The Bay Area Eye Institute
provides comprehensive
eye care including routine
eye exams, diabetic
eye exams, glaucoma
screening and treatment,
dry eye management,
cataract surgery, cornea
transplant surgery, LASIK
and PRK. Call to make an
appointment today.
Y
• Bay Area Eye Institute •
15511 N. Florida Avenue #A1 • Tampa, Florida 33613
(813) 265-6940 • www.CraigBergerMD.com
More “Eye” -ducation
How does the
EYE work?
S
uppose that you are looking at your spouse.
Light bounces off your spouse and passes
through the cornea (the clear front surface of
the eye), through the pupil (the black circle) in
the center of the iris (the colored part of the
eye) and then through the lens inside your eye.
The iris opens and closes to adjust the total
amount of light entering the eye. The human
lens, acting just like the camera lens, focuses
the light onto the retina.
I
n young people, (under the age of 40), the
human lens can adjust to add focusing
power to bring near objects into better focus.
The cornea contributes some of the focusing
power of the eye, but it is not able to adjust like
the human lens.
T
he retina translates the light into electrical
impulses which then travel to the brain
via the optic nerve. The brain converts these
impulses into the picture of your spouse.
T
What about
problems with
the eye?
his camera analogy can explain how many of the
diseases/conditions of the eye result in blurred or
distorted vision. If the eye is too long or the cornea is
too steep, the image is focused in front of the retina
and distant objects appear blurry.
T
his is called myopia (nearsightedness). If you move
the object closer, (for example, your spouse comes
to you for a hug), the image focus moves towards the
retina and your spouse comes into focus. If the eye is
too short or the cornea is too flat, the image focus lies
behind the retina and the image is blurry. This is called
hyperopia (farsightedness). Sadly for hyperopes, no
mater where your spouse is, they are never in focus.
A
stigmatism of the cornea is another condition
that can result in blurred vision. Astigmatism is
best described by using the basketball versus football
comparison.
I
f the cornea is round
and symmetric like a
basketball, the cornea
has NO astigmatism. If it is shaped like a football, (with
one axis flat and the other steep), that cornea has
astigmatism. Like hyperopia, astigmatism makes your
spouse blurry no matter where they are. Of course,
glasses, contact lenses, refractive surgery and cataract
surgery can all bring your spouse into perfect focus!
• Bay Area Eye Institute •
15511 N. Florida Avenue #A1 • Tampa, Florida 33613
(813) 265-6940 • www.CraigBergerMD.com
Eye Games
test your Knowledge
Ready to test your eye knowledge with true or false questions?
(Answers on last page)
1. T F Failure to use proper glasses, as an adult, will hurt your eyes.
2. T F Reading in dim lighting can hurt your eyes.
3. T F Everyone will develop cataracts if they live long enough.
4. T F Eating carrots can improve your vision.
5. T F Sitting too close to the TV or watching TV in the dark will hurt your eyes.
6. T F Contact lenses can slip back behind the eye.
7. T F Overuse or misuse of contact lenses can result in blindness.
8. T F Overuse of your eyes can weaken them.
9. T F Diabetes is the number one cause of blindness in adult Americans.
10. T F High blood pressure can lead to loss of vision.
Word SearcH
(Answers on last page)
Find these words:
Cataract
Cornea
Iris
Lens
Pupil
Retna
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• Bay Area Eye Institute •
15511 N. Florida Avenue #A1 • Tampa, Florida 33613
(813) 265-6940 • www.CraigBergerMD.com
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