Preserve Your Vision With Warsaw Family Eyecare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Warsaw

Preserve Your Vision With Warsaw Family Eyecare

(574) 267-3515

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 Warsaw Family 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, Warsaw Family Eyecare in Warsaw 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 Warsaw Family Eyecare in Warsaw 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
4.9
407 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Oct. 03, 2024
Best eye care in town!
- Sep. 26, 2024
Fast and friendly staff
- Jul. 11, 2024
Dr. Todd is always happy to spend time to explain everything and answer all questions. She is extrem... ely competent and I trust her abilities.
- Jul. 05, 2024
Dr Caughill and staff was amazing with my daughter. Was able to see her immediately with an issue, t... reated her with care and respect, and spoke to her in a way that made her feel important. 100% will recommend to anyone with children!
- Jun. 28, 2024
The doctor checked my eyes thoroughly and I can see fine.
- Jun. 25, 2024
I recently moved to the area and was looking for an eye doctor. I read the reviews about Dr. Todd a... nd was overwhelmed. I knew I had to make an appointment, and Dr. Todd was everything I was hoping for in a new eye doctor. Plus ALL of the staff I encountered were so nice and welcoming. I wholeheartedly recommend this office!
- Jun. 21, 2024
Great office! Very professional!
- Jun. 20, 2024
Doctors are excellent but long wait times for appointments.
- Jun. 14, 2024
I do like every personnel member and the eye doctors. I do expect professional doctors and staff and... especially the ones that take care of the billing because I just had an issue with that. They had my address incorrect and I was not receiving any statements because it was being sent out to the wrong address . Just be sure everything is correct.
- May. 28, 2024
Very satisfied with my experience here.
- May. 21, 2024
The doctor was very knowlidgeable
- Apr. 24, 2024
It was a great experience. Everyone was so pleasantly nice. My visit was so fast too.
- Apr. 16, 2024
I’ve seen many optometrists in my life. Dr. Rebekah Todd is my favorite. She explains things ver... y well and takes the extra steps to make sure everything is perfect. I’ll be sticking with her.
- Apr. 04, 2024
I've been coming here since I was little, I love every visit. Everyone is kind & they have a play ar... ea for children.
- Mar. 30, 2024
Doctor Temple cares about her patients as if they were family.
- Mar. 25, 2024
They take good care of you
- Mar. 22, 2024
It was my 1st visit there and they are wonderful! I'm definitely staying with them as a customer!
- Mar. 22, 2024
Super friendly and very helpful.
- Mar. 14, 2024
Dr. Caughell and the entire staff is always so friendly and knowledgeable. They have always taken g... reat care of my families eyes.
- Feb. 23, 2024
I love the knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful staff. Best eye doctors in the area! Great for the w... hole family. All five of us go here for check ups, eye glasses, and contacts.

View All 407 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Warsaw

Our optometry practice in Warsaw

Photograph of Scott J.  Caughell
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(574) 267-3515