Many people are familiar with the term “aneurysm,” which refers to when part of an artery wall weakens to the point that it widens abnormally. Most commonly, aneurysms occur in the major artery that leads from the heart or in the brain.
So what are retinal microaneurysms, which occur in the eye? Our eye doctor in Ft. Worth, Southlake, and Downtown, Texas, explains this generally unfamiliar term.
Definition
Microaneurysms are tiny outpouchings of blood that protrude from an artery or vein. When they occur in the eye, they are known as retinal microaneurysms. If these protrusions open, they leak blood into the tissues of the retina.
Causes
Any type of vascular disease or hypertension can contribute to the development of a retinal microaneurysm, however they have been firmly associated with diabetes. As the first clinically evident sign of diabetic retinopathy, they are regarded as the hallmark of this eye disease.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Typically, retinal microaneurysms do not cause any noticeable symptoms. That’s why if you have diabetes, it’s essential to book regular dilated eye exams with an eye doctor at one of our Eyeworks clinics in Ft. Worth, Southlake, and Downtown, Texas.
Our eye doctor can detect the microaneurysm during a diabetes eye exam, and further imaging can be done to determine the origin and severity. Diagnosis is critical, because the recognition of microaneurysms is the first step towards preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy to a stage that causes vision loss.
Treatment
There is no treatment that specifically targets a microaneurysm. Rather, the treatment targets the diabetes that’s behind the condition.
By tightening blood glucose control in your diabetes management, as well as treating any associated other health disorders such as high blood pressure, most microaneurysms are reversible. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and following your doctor’s recommendations for managing diabetes and blood pressure go far towards reducing retinal microaneurysms.
Protect your eyes against diabetic retinopathy with regular diabetes eye exams
Our eye doctors in Ft. Worth, Southlake, and Downtown, Texas, perform comprehensive, dilated eye exams to inspect for the signs of eye disease associated with diabetes.
At Eyeworks, we put your family's needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 817-346-7077 or book an appointment online to see one of our Ft. Worth eye doctors.
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