Diabetic Eye Care
What is Diabetic Eye Disease?
Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision changes and, in some cases, permanent damage. These changes often develop without early symptoms, which is why routine eye care is critical for long-term vision health.
How do we detect diabetic eye issues?
Treatment Options
Care is tailored to the stage of disease, your symptoms, and your overall eye health. Some patients require close monitoring, while others may benefit from medical or in-office treatments to help protect vision and prevent progression. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best plan for your long-term care.
What To Expect
Diabetic eye care is ongoing and preventative. We partner with you through regular exams, personalized treatment planning, and follow-up to help preserve your vision and give you confidence in your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is progressive. It begins when the tiny blood vessels in the eye weaken. The blood vessels later develop small bulges that may burst and leak into the retina.
New weak blood vessels grow on the retinal surface and may break easily and bleed into the eye. This is called proliferative retinopathy. The bleeding can cloud your vision and cause scar tissue to form. This can cause swelling or force the retina to detach from the eye wall.
What are common symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
Most often, there are no early symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Unfortunately, most people do not notice symptoms until significant damage has occurred and complications have developed.
If the disease is allowed to progress without treatment, permanent retinal damage can develop, leading to severe vision loss or even blindness. That’s why Maplewood Eye Clinic strongly recommends regular exams to identify diabetic retinopathy in its earliest stages and help prevent vision loss.
What is the importance of checkups?
egular checkups can detect retinopathy before it does severe damage to vision. The American Diabetes Association recommends that screening begin within three to five years after the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, immediately after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, and during the first three months of pregnancy for a woman who has diabetes. Maplewood Eye Clinic recommends an eye exam immediately after you’ve been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetics should have their eyes examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) annually, even if they do not have any symptoms. We may decide that you should be examined more often, depending on the results of your initial exam.
Unfortunately, many diabetics skip their yearly eye exams. As a result, they do not learn that they have the condition until significant vision loss has already occurred.
Is diabetic retinopathy preventable?
You can prevent vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy. Keep your blood sugar levels and blood pressure near normal. This reduces your chance of damaging small blood vessels and decreases your risk of damaging the retina. It can also help slow the progression of retinopathy, if you already have it, and prevent future vision loss. Vision loss and blindness can be prevented with early detection, treatment, and careful long-term follow-up by Maplewood Eye Clinic.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
Maplewood Eye Clinic uses laser treatment (photocoagulation) because it is effective in preventing vision loss if it is done before severe retinal damage has occurred. The board-certified eye doctors at Maplewood Eye Clinic can help you better understand diabetic retinopathy, minimize the progression of this disease, and provide the necessary treatment.
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