Preserve Your Vision With Orlando Eyecare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Orlando

Preserve Your Vision With Orlando Eyecare

(407) 295-1234

Have diabetes?

Experiencing changes in vision, such as blurriness and eye floaters?

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss around the world. Of an estimated 285 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide, approximately one-third have signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Fortunately, there are several steps people with diabetes can take to prevent or minimize vision loss.

Blood sugar level check


What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

noraml eye and an eye with  diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by high blood sugar levels that damage the small blood vessels clustered within your retina. This leads to swelling or fluid leakage and can result in vision loss and even blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy also raises the risk of retinal detachment and/or glaucoma.

Because the early stages of diabetic retinopathy show no symptoms, many don't realize they have it until the disease has progressed.

If you have diabetes, you are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. To reduce your risk and protect your vision, schedule an eye exam with Orlando Eyecare today.


What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?

diabetic-retinopothy-oct-scan

As mentioned above, the early phase of diabetic retinopathy typically shows no symptoms. This is why it's important to have routine eye exams (all the more so if you have diabetes), as your eye doctor can detect diabetic retinopathy in its earlier stages before symptoms become apparent.

Symptoms of proliferative diabetic retinopathy include:
  • Blurred vision
  • Floaters
  • Double vision
  • Near vision problems
  • Seeing dark spots (scotomas)
  • Difficulty seeing at night

What are the Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy?

Non-Proliferative Retinopathy (early stage):
This occurs when small bulges–or microaneurysms–form in blood vessels and can leak fluid into the retina.

Proliferative Retinopathy (later phase):
This refers to abnormal vessel growth and leakage in the retina. This triggers a variety of vision problems such as blurriness, reduced field of vision, and even blindness.

If you have diabetes, Orlando Eyecare in Orlando offers diagnostic tests and treatment options to help preserve your vision. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome.

Diabetic-Retinopathy-Bllod-sugar-level-checker


How Optometrists Diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Medical history

    Your optometrist will ask about your medical history, including diabetes, as well as your family history of eye conditions.

  • Dilated pupil exam

    Your optometrist will apply eye drops to dilate the pupils so they can see inside the eye and detect any issues.

  • Fluorescein angiography

    This eye test uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid.

  • Optical coherence tomography

    This imaging method shows a cross-section of the retina and can indicate whether vessels are leaking fluid into the retina.


How to Treat Diabetic Retinopathy

senior man with diabetic retinopathy

Treatment begins with managing blood sugar levels and diabetes. This means eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and taking whatever diabetes medication has been prescribed.

Other treatments will depend on the stage or severity of the disease. If caught early, only blood sugar management may be necessary.

However, if you're in a more advanced stage of the diseases, treatment options may include:
  • Eye medications. Steroid and Anti-VEGF treatments can stop inflammation and prevent the formation of new blood vessels.
  • Laser surgery. Reduces the proliferation of abnormal blood vessels and swelling in the retina.
  • Vitrectomy. If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye surgery called vitrectomy. This procedure removes scar tissue, blood or fluid, and some of the vitreous gel so light rays can better focus on the retina.

Diabetic Retinopathy FAQs

What are the major risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?

As the name suggests, diabetes is the main risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy. Be mindful of your family history of type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, get an annual eye exam to detect potential problems early.

Other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Moreover, those of African or Hispanic descent have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

There are a number of ways to preserve your vision and reduce the risk of vision and eye damage due to diabetic retinopathy.

  • Visit your eye doctor for annual eye exams.
  • Control your blood sugar levels.
  • Maintain healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Quit smoking.

The best thing you can do right now is to schedule your eye exam with Orlando Eyecare in Orlando to ensure that everything is in check.

Does diabetic retinopathy cause blindness?

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness among work-aged adults. It affects one in three people with diabetes and often goes unnoticed at first. Diagnosing and treating the condition early on can prevent severe vision loss.

Patient Reviews
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77 Reviews
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- Nov. 28, 2024
Great staff! Excellent care.
- Nov. 16, 2024
If you’d like a personalized Eyecare Doctor and staff, with the best service in central FL, go to ... Orlando Eyecare. They are amazing. Always willing to help give you the best care possible.
- Nov. 12, 2024
Dr. Smith and his team are amazing. Have been coming here for years and will continue to come here n... o matter how far I live. Can’t beat the quality care you get from here.
- Nov. 06, 2024
Over 7-years together, we are family. Highly recommend this eye doctor’s office. Dr. Smith is a co... ol doctor very welcoming, and he remembers names and whatever history of life you share with him-big plus. The staff -top notch customer relations. Office decor - in and out excellent presentation. Warm setting and the best looking building on the block. You won't be disappointed, it's worth the visit.
- Sep. 07, 2024
Very courtesy and friendly. A great experience from the beginning to end. I was greeted my name up... on walking into the door. I felt like family not just a customer.
- Aug. 26, 2024
The staff was very nice and patient with us ;the Doctor was just perfect ...
- Jul. 30, 2024
Great service and staff!
- Jul. 16, 2024
Love it here. Highly recommend this eye doctor’s office. Dr. Smith is a cool doctor very welcoming... . His staff is always bright and kind. Dr. Smith is always engaging on the steps on what or how he’s checking your eyes/vision.
- Jul. 05, 2024
They are the best! Treat me like family and I will not go anywhere else!
- Jun. 17, 2024
I have always received excellent customer service. Dr. Smith is very professional and personable. I ... greatly appreciate this office.
- Jun. 11, 2024
Clean, Calm atmosphere. Extremely friendly and professional staff !!!
- Jun. 02, 2024
Great staff great location
- May. 17, 2024
I could’ve been more welcoming by Dr Smith and his entire team! This is my new place for eye care ... services. You all rock!
- Dec. 21, 2023
Great attentive and knowledgeable Doctor and staff. They take the extra time needed even when busy. ... Thank you!
- Jul. 30, 2023
Thank you so much for taking me in last minute before my trip out of the country! The staff and Doct... or were very nice and professional. I came in as. New patient last minute and was treated like I had been there forever. Highly recommend!
- May. 25, 2023
I'm so happy with my glasses. Wow this was the best service I have received in years. I love my gl... asses. The entire location is so organized n clean! Thank you bunchezz to the Dr. N his team!
- Jul. 11, 2022
The whole staff is great. Feel family when I'm there.
- Apr. 27, 2022
I was in Orlando working & lost a nose pad off of my glasses. Dr Smith's office was the closest eye... care place so I went in without an appointment. I told the young lady at the counter what happened & she took my glasses & came back with 2 new nose pads & wouldn't let me pay her for them. Thank you so much, I wish I'd got the young ladies name but she's a keeper.
- Jan. 17, 2021
Fantastic staff and clean facilities. Dr. Smith is amazing with kids and adults alike. Highly recomm... ended for all eye care needs.
- Jul. 15, 2020
Amazing always 🙂

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Orlando

Our optometry practice in Orlando

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Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(407) 295-1234