Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease, which causes damage to the blood vessels of the retina due to high blood sugar. If it is not treated on time, the disease can lead to vision loss and even blindness. At ABC Vision in Sherwood, Hillsboro, and Portland, OR, we provide comprehensive eye exams to learn more about your condition and treatment to slow down the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Those who have diabetes should have a routine diabetic eye exam by an eye doctor or optometrist, as this will allow for the detection of diabetic retinopathy while still in its early stages. And early detection and proper medical management of this diabetic eye disease can lessen your risk of vision loss.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
If diabetes is yet-to-be-identified or left untreated, it will lead to higher blood sugar levels that can damage the blood vessels in the retina. Initially, you may notice blurry vision, however, as this eye disease progresses, it may cause vision loss. Those who have diabetes should have a routine diabetic eye exam, which can detect diabetic retinopathy while still in its early stages. Early detection and proper treatment can help reduce vision loss.
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
There are two many types of diabetic retinopathy. These types include the following:
• Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy — NPDR is the early stage of this eye disease, which causes the blood vessels begin to bulge or weaken. You may also not experience any noticeable symptoms during the early stage.
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy — NPDR slowly turns to PDR as it becomes more advanced. At this point, the damaged blood vessels encourage new abnormal and weak blood vessels to grow, which can lead to vision issues if the disease is not treated.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may experience various symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:
• Blurry vision
• Difficulty distinguishing colors and driving at night
• Strings or dark spots in your field of vision
• Empty spots in your field of vision
Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
Your treatment for diabetic retinopathy will depend on the stage and severity of the disease. Some treatments we may recommend include:
• Strict control of blood sugar levels to slow the progression of the disease
• Laser Photocoagulation, which are lasers that are used to seal leaking blood vessels
• Intravitreal Injections, which include medications that are injected into the eye to reduce leakage and abnormal cell growth
• Surgery may be needed in advanced cases with severe bleeding or a retinal detachment
Contact us for an Appointment Today
If you are experiencing symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, let our team at ABC Vision in Sherwood, Hillsboro, and Portland, OR, help. To learn more about our treatments or to schedule your appointment, call our Sherwood office at (503) 625-5599, our Hillsboro office at (503) 649-7566, or our Portland location at (503) 473-8039 today. When you need an optometrist near me, we are happy to assist you!