Don’t Let Diabetic Retinopathy Steal Your Good Vision
If you have diabetes, it’s extra important that you take excellent care of your eyes. Diabetics run a risk for developing vision-threatening eye problems, and regular check-ups are a must to maintain your good vision.
If you have diabetes you may develop diabetic retinopathy. This is a serious eye condition which can be easily diagnosed during a comprehensive eye exam. At xxx xxxxx, our well respected ophthalmologist, Dr. xxx xxxx, will provide you with a thorough eye exam which will include screenings for diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye problems.
People who have consistently elevated levels of sugar in their bloodstream may develop diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a collective term for eye conditions which affect the blood vessels that surround the retina. Moreover, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for middle-age people. Sometimes the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are so slight that patients are not even aware it is occurring.
If a patient has macular edema, vision can become intermittently blurred. When there are new blood vessels forming around the retina, this is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. These blood vessels can bleed and cause large floaters which will affect the patient’s vision. These blood vessels can also lead to a hemorrhage occurring in the eye, which will also cause blurry vision.
Diabetic retinopathy can easily be diagnosed by our optometrist during a comprehensive eye exam. As part of this exam our opthalmologist views the interior of the eye. Once the eye is dilated, an ophthalmoscope will allow our doctor to view the retina and determine how far any diabetic retinopathy has progressed. If it is found, there are other tests that can be performed to determine the extent of the eye disease.
The best way to avoid problems with diabetic retinopathy is through prevention. Diabetic patients are urged to keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. This will significantly lower your risk of vision loss due to this disease.
For an appointment to see Dr. xxxx for an eye exam, contact us today online at __________________ or by phone at xxx-xxx-xxxx.