Diabetic Retinopathy Risk & Pregnancy in NY



Dr. Wolter


NY Ophthalmologist Andreas Wolter, M.D. of Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, New York discussed the need for extra diligence for diabetic patients who are pregnant or considering getting pregnant as the management of diabetic retinopathy risk is critical. “Most women today are well aware of the effects of pregnancy on hormones, but they may not realize that these hormonal changes can accelerate the damage to the small blood vessels in the retina leading to rapid acceleration of diabetic retinopathy during pregnancy,” said Dr. Wolter. “We strongly recommend that we work side by side with diabetic patients, their obstetricians and sometimes even retina specialists during preconception as well as during the actual pregnancy and post pregnancy period to insure early diagnosis and intervention if needed. In this we can we can minimize the risk of diabetic retinopathy and achieve optimal patient outcomes’, summarized Dr. Wolter.

If you or someone you know is a diabetic and considering getting pregnant or is already pregnant, it is important that you schedule an appointment for a diabetic eye exam. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving eye health and vision with diabetes. Please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

Eye Surgeons on Cataract Surgery & Diabetes in NY

“At Seeta Eye Centers we routinely perform successful cataract surgery and lens implants for patients with diabetes-but we are particularly critical in our evaluation and surgery techniques for patients with diabetes,” commented NY Cataract Surgeon Satish Modi, M.D. “Our incorporation of the Alcon® LenSx® Femtosecond Laser to perform bladeless laser assisted cataract surgery has given us even greater confidence in the precision and predictability for higher risk patients.”

Diabetes is a known risk factor for developing cataracts and diabetic retinopathy-a serious threat to vision and a leading cause of new blindness. “The abnormal carbohydrate and sugar metabolism that is the hallmark of diabetes causes the sugars and metabolic byproducts to damage the crystalline lens of the eye and form cataracts. Thus, it is not uncommon for diabetic patients to need cataract surgery and often at an earlier age than others who are not diabetic,” explained Andreas Wolter, M.D., a New York Cataract Surgeon at Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. “While diabetes is known to cause difficulty with wound healing, the type of small incision cataract surgery performed today really poses no additional risk to diabetic patients than non diabetic patients. Further, we now use the femtosecond laser for bladeless cataract surgery which gives use exquisite control of the wound and incision architecture each and every time we operate,” noted Dr. Modi.

“It is important that diabetics considering cataract surgery have a careful evaluation of the retina-especially the macula-using ocular coherence tomography (OCT) to identify the presence of diabetic macular edema, a known finding in diabetic retinopathy that can cause less then optimal results. In addition, in certain situations some cataract surgeons may take an added precaution of placing an injection of VEGF inhibitor such as Avastin™ or Lucentis™ into the vitreous of the eye to prevent new blood vessel growth. Other than these considerations diabetic cataract surgery can offer patients good results,” concluded Dr. Wolter.

Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving eye health and vision with diabetes. If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes and is concerned about cataracts or in need of cataract surgery and lens implants please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

NY Doctor on Diabetes & Eye Problems

NY eye doctor Satish Modi, M.D. shared some important information and facts about diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and eye problems. Dr. Modi explained, “Diabetes can have a significant effect on your eyes and vision. This disease affects your ability to produce or use insulin properly and thus control blood sugar levels. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause damage to the blood vessels-especially the small blood vessels in the heart, kidneys and eyes.”

When the blood vessels in the retina swell, leak or close off completely, or if abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina, it results in diabetic retinopathy. “Those people who are at greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy are those who have poor blood sugar control, women who are pregnant and people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids or both,” further explained Dr. Modi. “In addition, people who are from certain ethnic groups, such as African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy.”

Diabetes can cause vision in your eyes to change even if you do not have retinopathy. If your blood sugar levels change quickly, it can affect the shape of your eye’s crystalline lens, causing blurry vision, which goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. Maintaining good control of your blood sugar helps reduce episodes of blurry vision. If you or someone you know has diabetes or even high blood sugar, especially if there is a family history of diabetes-you should have regular eye exams to help protect your eye health and vision. The key to successful treatment of diabetic retinopathy is early detection and intervention. If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes please make sure that they are getting regular eye exams to help preserve their eye health and vision. Please feel free to call Seeta Eye Centers and schedule an eye examination by calling 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.

NY Eye Doctor at Israel Ophthalmological Society

NY eye doctor Satish Modi, M.D. of Seeta Eye Centers in Poughkeepsie, New York spoke to the Israel Ophthalmological Society at the Israel Museum of Art about the use of the anti-inflammatory eye drop Nevanac 0.3% which was just launched in Israel. Dr. Modi was one of the principal investigators that brought this eye drop to market in the U.S. Dr. Modi spoke to leading cataract surgeons as well as prominent retina specialists in Israel who also do cataract surgery about how this eye drop reduces retina swelling after cataract surgery and especially for patients with diabetic retinopathy after cataract surgery.
If you or someone you would like to learn more cataracts, bladeless cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to schedule an appointment by calling Seeta Eye Centers at 845-454-1025, visiting Seeta Eye Centers or facebook.com/seetaeyecenters.

Seeta Eye Centers is conveniently located for patients from Westchester County, Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County and Orange County including Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Middletown, Kingston, New Paltz, Newburgh, Beacon, Bedford, Catskill, Cornwall, Eastchester, Ellenville, Florida, Goshen, Harriman, Harrison, Highland, Highland Falls, Kerhonkson, Mahopac, Monroe, Montgomery, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, New City, Scarsdale, Saugerties, Spring Valley, Tarrytown, West Point, White Plains, Woodstock, Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, NY.