There are certain challenges, including eye disease, that face patients who struggle with diabetes, a disease characterized by too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood stream. Dr. Michael A. Hochman has been serving the Laredo community for over twenty years. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist helping patients with diabetes regain or better their vision.
In order to keep their vision sharp, patients with diabetes should take measures to ensure they’re in good health. One of the most important things to do is to have regular follow-ups with their health care providers. “Studies show that when patients with diabetes don’t follow up with their health providers, they risk losing their vision. Many of these patients return to find they are much worse. They let their disease mature and stop keeping track of how it is affecting other aspects of their health,” Dr. Hochman asserts.
There are serious vision consequences that arise when proper care is not taken. Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common and most serious eye-related complication of diabetes. It is caused when tiny blood vessels in the eyes become damaged by high glucose levels. The blood vessels can swell, and leak fluids and blood causing the retina to swell and vision to blur, or become wavy. One of the initial tell-tale signs that a person’s vision is being harmed by high levels of glucose is blurry vision. Dr. Hochman recommends patients living with diabetes have a comprehensive eye exam at least once per year. If blurry vision becomes an issue, an appointment must be made immediately.
Dr. Hochman is an active fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. He has taken multiple leadership roles in many Laredo community health care endeavors, and was recently recognized by the White House for his community efforts.