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Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or effectively use insulin to regulate blood sugar levels in the body.

Prolonged elevated blood sugar levels can damage many organs of the body, including the eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the retina, which is the inner layer of the eye, similar to the film in old-fashioned cameras.

High blood sugar can damage the blood vessels of the retina. Damaged blood vessels swell and leak fluid or blood into the retina.

There may be blood vessels narrowing or closing, which hinders the blood supply to the retina. Sometimes abnormal blood vessels can grow on the retina, causing bleeding in the eye. All these retinal changes can cause vision loss.

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People with diabetes can develop cataracts at a younger age and progress faster than people without cataracts.

High blood sugar causes the accumulation of proteins and cells in the natural lens of the eye. The lens becomes cloudy and vision becomes blurred.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which high intraocular pressure causes damage to the optic nerve, which is the nerve that connects the eye to the damaged part.

If left untreated, vision loss may be permanent. Having diabetes doubles the chance of glaucoma.

High blood sugar can interfere with the nerve function that controls eye movement. Nerve damage causes paralysis of the ophthalmos that moves the eyes.

The two eyes do not work together, the brain sees two images or double vision. Fortunately, diplopia will recover on its own, although it may last for days or weeks.

When blood sugar is not well controlled, it will reduce the body's immune response and ability to resist infection. People with diabetes are more susceptible to eye infections.

The key to preventing diabetic eye disease is to control blood sugar levels. There are new technologies that can continuously monitor blood sugar and adjust insulin or medications accordingly.

Regular eye exams can detect early and prevent vision loss. 

The National Hispanic Tradition Month starts on September 15 and ends on October 15.

There are many Hispanic ophthalmologists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of eye care.

Among them is Dr. Ramon Castroviejo, who is considered one of the most influential ophthalmologists of the 20th century. He is recognized as the father of modern corneal transplantation.

He was born in 1904 to a family of doctors and ophthalmologists in Spain, and came to the United States shortly after graduating from the University of Madrid in 1929. He conducted clinical and laboratory research at Chicago Eye and Ear Hospital and Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.   

In 1931, Dr. Castroviejo was invited to Columbia University in New York City and began his prolific clinical career. He developed the technique of transplanting the cornea of ​​the newly deceased to the damaged eye of the living.

He designed a double-edged Castroviejo knife to cut a square corneal graft from the donor to replace the diseased cornea. The corneal graft is placed in place with silk sutures covering it.

Patients with their heads still stay in bed for about 10 days. Dr. Castroviejo is able to achieve 90% clear corneal grafts and functional vision in many patients.

Many people are skeptical of Dr. Castroviejo's report on the success of corneal transplantation.

In 1950, he was invited to speak at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago. Dr. Castroviejo rented a rail car to transport 200 corneal transplant patients from New York to Chicago. Each patient holds a flashlight so that the attendant at the meeting can see the results of the operation with his own eyes.

In addition to developing ophthalmic surgery techniques, Dr. Castroviejo has also designed many ophthalmic surgical instruments. Castroviejo needle holders and Castroviejo forceps are used daily by ophthalmologists all over the world.

Dr. Castroviejo has received many honors and medals. He has published approximately 250 articles in medical journals. Many of his friends and students established the Castroviejo Corneal Association to commemorate his contributions to corneal research and treatment.

At the time of his death, he donated his cornea for transplantation.

Dr. Frederick Ho, Medical Director of Atlantic Ophthalmology and Medical Director of Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MD is located at 8040 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. To make an appointment, please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more, visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.