Preserve Your Vision With Cleburne Eye Clinic

Diabetic Retinopathy in Cleburne

Preserve Your Vision With Cleburne Eye Clinic

(817) 645-2411

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 Cleburne Eye Clinic 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, Cleburne Eye Clinic in Cleburne 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 Cleburne Eye Clinic in Cleburne 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. 02, 2024
Very professional
- Oct. 23, 2024
Cleburne Eye Clinic can be counted on to provide professional eye care. They carry an array of con... tact and frame brands and they have plenty of personnel on site to assist you as needed.
- Oct. 12, 2024
I have been a patient at Cleburne Eye Clinic off and on since I was about 12 years old. Now I’m 62... . If half a century of entrusting my vision to a group doesn’t indicate my trust, nothing will. Besides their expertise, they continue to provide cutting edge technologies to ensure my eyes are healthy. Finally, the eyewear selection is phenomenal and affordable. Love them!
- Oct. 11, 2024
Best service ever Dr Nishani Patel answer all my questions and did a great job and staff is very he... lpful and friendly. I will always come to this place for my eyes check up
- Sep. 23, 2024
This place is fantastic, but make sure to schedule ahead since they're often booked! It's a one-stop... shop for all your eye care needs. I hadn't been to an eye doctor in years, but after my visit, I'm so glad I did. Since getting my new glasses, my headaches have completely disappeared. Highly recommend!
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(Translated by Google) All excellent service, friendly translation (Original) Todo excelente atenc... ión amables traducción
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Great caring service!!
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Everyone was very professional and cared about you and your needs atmosphere was wonderful and sooth... ing
- Sep. 07, 2024
Dr. Patel is great. Very knowledgeable and caring.
- Sep. 04, 2024
Great service. Great staff. Would not hesitate to return or recommend.
- Aug. 31, 2024
I appreciate the manner in which Dr. Escobar explained my condition and showed compassion and concer... n.
- Aug. 25, 2024
Staff is very friendly and professional.
- Aug. 22, 2024
The doctor was nice and thorough. The staff was very professional, nice and helpful.
- Aug. 02, 2024
I like Dr Escobar. She and her staff are very nice and answer all questions so I understand them.
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This eye clinic is the best!! Dr. Escobar was great! Ramona is the best and recommended frames I lo... ve!
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Great experience from the time I arrived until I left. I would highly recommend this eye clinic!
- Jul. 26, 2024
Always a thorough exam.
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The people were friendly, and they got me through the process rather quickly. Dr. Kuykendall was ve... ry helpful and explained what I wished to know. She was very nice.
- Jul. 19, 2024
I had a great exam and Ramona was great helping me with my prescriptions.
- Jul. 09, 2024
Called in yesterday with an eye injury and got a same day appointment with Dr Escobar. She immediate... ly figured out there was a piece of metal in my eye, got it out and cleaned my eye with in like 20 minutes.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Cleburne

Our optometry practice in Cleburne

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(817) 645-2411