In this episode Dr. Levi Sowers and Brandon Rea interview returning guest Dr. Randy Kardon. Dr. Kardon is a neuro ophthalmologist at the Iowa City VA Healthcare System and the University of Iowa in Iowa City who has had federal funding for over 30 years. This episode focuses on diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes affects many different types of body tissues, including the eye. With minimal invasiveness, the eye can be studied and provide information about how diabetes damages other tissues. Additionally, the eye can allow doctors to detect diabetes far earlier than other tissues with high resolution scans on the cells in the eyes. Early detection and management of diabetes can help minimize health effects of the disease and can prevent blindness. Control of blood sugar is the most important aspect to help prevent blindness with diabetes. Dr. Kardon explains how diabetes affects the eye and can lead to vision loss, as well as other effects on the body and available treatments. He explains that there are tiny blood vessels in the eye that are lined with endothelial cells. In diabetes these endothelial cells are damaged by the byproducts of high blood sugar and cause the tiny blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissue. When fluid gets into the tissue layers it disrupts the tissues' ability to function. This, however, can be managed with treatment. After the vessels begin leaking, the eye releases growth factors to allow new blood vessels to grow. Unfortunately, these vessels are weaker and begin to leak even more, and this is what leads to severe blindness in patients. Though there are treatments for the second stage of blood vessel leaks, when the leakage is too severe there is little that can be done. Dr. Kardon also talks about the different types of diabetes and how each type affects vision in patients.

If you are a Veteran or you know a Veteran needing help with visual loss, contact the Visual Impairment Services Team coordinator at your nearest VA medical center or contact the Blind Rehabilitation Service Program by phone which can be found here. There are 13 Blind Rehabilitation Centers around the country, which can help with things like mobility, communication, and living with vision loss.