Living with diabetes puts you at increased risk for developing eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of your eye, affecting your vision. Early diagnosis and proper eye care from an optometrist near you, like the ones at Arena Eye Care Optometry in Sacramento, CA, you can preserve your sight.

Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

With diabetic retinopathy, high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in your retina. This disrupts blood and oxygen flow, impairing the retina's ability to function. As the condition advances, new abnormal blood vessels may also grow on the retina. These are fragile and can leak fluid, worsening the damage.

Diabetic retinopathy progresses through mild, moderate, and severe stages. Early on there may be no symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are so important. As it advances, symptoms can include:

•           Blurred or fluctuating vision

•           Impaired color vision

•           Dark or empty spots in your field of vision

•           Vision loss

Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy

Because early diabetic retinopathy shows no obvious symptoms, comprehensive eye exams are essential for diagnosis. Your optometrist will dilate your pupils and carefully inspect your retina to check for:

•           Leaking blood vessels

•           Retinal swelling

•           Pale, fatty deposits on the retina

•           Abnormal blood vessel growth

•           Changes in retina tissue

Additional tests like optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be used to produce detailed retinal images. Your eye doctor can then grade the level of diabetic damage and monitor for worsening.

Treatment Options for Diabetic Retinopathy

Treatments vary depending on the severity of damage but aim to prevent further vision loss. Options may include:

•           Strict blood sugar control to minimize vessel damage

•           Laser surgery to stop leaking or abnormal vessels

•           Anti-VEGF injections to block abnormal blood vessel growth

•           Vitrectomy surgery to remove scar tissue or blood

•           Treatment for associated eye conditions like cataracts

Protect Your Sight with Comprehensive Eye Care

Don't take your vision for granted. As a diabetic, be sure to schedule regular, dilated eye exams to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy. With early detection and appropriate treatment from a diabetes eye care specialist, you can preserve your eyesight and quality of life.

Don't Put Off Getting the Treatment You Need - Schedule an Eye Appointment Today

Contact your eye doctor today to schedule your diabetic retinopathy screening. We can recommend the ideal frequency for exams based on your health profile. Consistent eye care is key for managing diabetes and catching vision problems early. Don't wait, call us at Arena Eye Care Optometry to schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor near you.