Preserve Your Vision With 20/20 Image Eye Center - Fountain Hills

Diabetic Retinopathy in Fountain Hills

Preserve Your Vision With 20/20 Image Eye Center - Fountain Hills

(480) 816-0102

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 20/20 Image Eye Center - Fountain Hills 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, 20/20 Image Eye Center - Fountain Hills in Fountain Hills 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 20/20 Image Eye Center - Fountain Hills in Fountain Hills 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
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- Nov. 26, 2024
Ramon selected glasses from the description of what I wanted. He was patient in helping me choose, g... iving advice when I asked for it, and encouraging me through the process.
- Oct. 29, 2024
Friendly, professional staff at this 20/20 Image Eye Center location. Office is convenient and they... have a wide array of frame styles from which to choose. Dr. Peterson is great!
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Prompt friendly service provided exactly what I needed
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In addition to knowledgeable service during the eye exam process, the people who work there are very... caring and kind to everyone!
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Pleasant staff and great service. Will go back next year!
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Thay are awesome! Highly recommend this vision center!!!
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The staff here are amazing!
- Jun. 09, 2024
Very friendly and helpful staff. Nice clean environment. Dr. Peterson has been there for years and i... s great. They are the only vision center in Fountain Hills that accepts Avesis eye insurance.
- May. 23, 2024
Dr. Peterson was very friendly and professional. His staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. ... I highly recommend their services.
- May. 22, 2024
Dr Peterson is wonderful and the staff is very friendly and helpful, but make sure you go in with yo... ur own questions and concerns and be certain to bring them up. You need to be your own advocate as they don't really know you. Same with any medical appointment as well.
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Super front office staff! I was able get an appointment in 2 days for my eye issue! Dr Neadeau was t... horough, answered my questions and gave me an eye drop prescription that gave me immediate relief! Thank you!!
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I was very impressed by everyone from the appointment scheduler to the Doctor. Everyone was very fo... cused on me the patient.
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Excellent experience. Doctor and staff were pleasant, thorough and patent centered.
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Very happy with my first visit here. I was treated efficiently and also like a long term patient.
- Feb. 11, 2024
Before purchasing my new glasses, Brian took the time to recommend the best ones for me. He showed m... e the differences and advantages among various types of lenses. Since I used them for the first time, I felt comfortable!
- Feb. 10, 2024
The doctor and everyone else in the office are nothing but pleasant and knowledgeable

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Fountain Hills

Our optometry practice in Fountain Hills

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(480) 816-0102