Diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness if not treated on time. It can also cause other complications which greatly affect vision.
At EyeWest Vision Clinic, we strive to offer the best diabetic retinopathy care for all our patients. We want to ensure that you maintain a healthy vision, even when you have conditions like diabetes. We examine you comprehensively for any sign of retinopathy and offer the best treatment if you are diagnosed with it. In addition, we give you advice on how you can prevent eye disease by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and controlling your blood sugar levels. We serve the people of Rogers and St. Michael, MN.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that damages the blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar levels. It affects both eyes and is the leading cause of blindness in people living with diabetes.
Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy
Too much sugar in the blood can cause blockage of the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina, which restricts blood flow. The eye grows other blood vessels as a result of that. However, the new blood vessels may start leaking since they don’t develop properly. As the condition worsens, more blood vessels are blocked and scar tissue builds up, leading to diabetic retinopathy.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
At first, diabetic retinopathy may not show any symptoms. As it progresses, it shows symptoms like:
- Blurred vision
- Dark areas in vision
- Floaters (dark strings in vision)
- Poor night vision
- Loss of vision
Complications of Diabetic Retinopathy
If not treated promptly, diabetic retinopathy may lead to complications like:
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Blindness
Prevention
If you have diabetes, it’s possible to prevent diabetes retinopathy by practicing the following:
- Monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly
- Paying attention to your vision and seeing an eye doctor any time you notice any change
- Quitting smoking as it increases the risk of developing diabetes complications
- Managing diabetes by eating healthy and exercising regularly
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
Before any treatment, an optometrist will have to diagnose you with diabetic retinopathy. To do this, they dilate the pupil by adding eye drops to make it easy to see the inside of the eye. They then conduct various tests such as optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography to get more details about the retina and assess the blood vessels.
If you have diabetic retinopathy but it hasn’t caused significant damage to the eye, managing diabetes is enough to control it. If it has already caused damage, then treatment is recommended. Treatment options include:
- Laser treatment
- Injections
- Surgery
Get Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment at EyeWest Vision Clinic
Do you have any signs of diabetic retinopathy? Come to EyeWest Vision Clinic for assessment. The condition is best manageable when detected early. Call our Rogers, MN, clinic at (763) 428-3757 and our St. Michael, MN, clinic at (763) 497-3754 to book an appointment with our optometrist.
