Diabetic Retinopathy
WELLSPIRE Diabetic Retinopathy CARE
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Patients with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy, a condition caused when high blood sugar damages the blood vessels in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of legal blindness among working-age Americans.
What are the symptoms?
Although symptoms aren’t usually evident in the beginning stages, over time, patients with diabetic retinopathy will begin to notice:
- blurred vision
- increase in floaters
- vision that’s blurred and then clears
- difficulty seeing at night
- blank areas in vision
- colors appear faded
- loss of vision
Are you at risk?
If you have diabetes or kidney problems, chances are high that your vision will be affected by diabetic retinopathy.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
Our ophthalmology team closely monitors diabetic patients, offering timely interventions such
as intravitreal injections to prevent or slow vision loss and maintain ocular health.
It is critical that diabetics receive routine ophthalmological exams. As diabetic retinopathy does not typically cause pain, nor any physical abnormalities to the outside of the eye, the condition can only be detected by examining the retina with a dilated eye exam.
If you are diabetic and think a dilated eye exam may be beneficial, we work seamlessly with primary care physicians and endocrinologists, both at Wellspire Medical and elsewhere, to ensure you receive the care and attention you need.
