One of the primary longterm side effects of high blood sugars is damage to the small capillary blood vessels throughout the body: kidneys, nerves, heart, brain, eyes (retina), etc. She needs to see an ophthalmologist for further evaluation of these issues. At age 70, she likely also has some cataract development which could be causing some of her visual problems. If your mother has had diabetes for 19 years, she needs an evaluation by an ophthalmologist for diabetic retinopathy which could likely be related to her complaints of being unable to read and see clearly. In diabetics, the most common cause of hazy vision which clears a few hours later is fluctuations in blood sugar. My mother is highly diabetic and is not able to see very clearly.I know our field will continue to advance. Now we have promising new research and developments in stem cells as a possible treatment option as well as implantable chips and devices. What do you see as the future of retina care? Just like vitrectomy was a breakthrough early in my career, the field of retina has made similar strides in recent years with sight-saving injections and other treatments, especially for age-related macular degeneration. The trip to Syria, in particular, was the best week of my life. I treasure the time we were able to spend working together to help others. What is your most memorable medical experience? A few years ago Chris invited me to join him on medical mission trips to both Vietnam and Syria. We build off our unique strengths and specialties, sharing challenging patient cases and learning from each other. I enjoy and feel blessed to work with them. And Tim also studied Spanish and served as both a health care translator and teacher of English as a second language before choosing medicine as well. Chris started out wanting to pursue journalism and then studied Spanish before ultimately choosing medicine. Patsy and I always encouraged them to find their own paths. However, I never thought they would become physicians, and they didn’t either. I also talked about my work with the boys and even took them with me sometimes on Saturday morning post-op rounds at the hospital. When the boys were young, I had to work long hours, but my wife Patsy and I always made it a priority for our family to have dinner together, even if it was late. What is it like having your sons follow you into the field of retina and then to Texas Retina Associates? I’ve always loved my work, but I love my family even more. My philosophy of practicing medicine has always been to do things for people not to people. I believe the best visual outcomes are achieved when the patients and physician work as a team. What is your philosophy of patient care? My first goal is to inspire patient trust, then to deliver the highest quality retina care possible. I have been practicing for many years, but I still wake up looking forward to going to the office. What do you enjoy most about your work caring for patients? I love spending the time to get to know my patients better. While working with ophthalmologists during my time in the Army, I found my calling. After medical school, I started my residency in internal medicine at the University of Virginia but then left to serve in the Army during Vietnam. However, the humanitarian potential of becoming a physician persuaded me to pursue medicine. Why did you choose to become a retina specialist? I always enjoyed science and started college wanting to become a chemical engineer. In recent years, his two sons, Christopher Fuller, MD, and Timothy Fuller, MD, have also joined Texas Retina Associates. Texas Retina Associates’ most senior physician, Dwain Fuller, MD, is one of three Dr.
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