Preserve Your Vision With Family Eyecare - Camdenton

Diabetic Retinopathy in Camdenton

Preserve Your Vision With Family Eyecare - Camdenton

(573) 346-5951

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 Family Eyecare - Camdenton 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, Family Eyecare - Camdenton in Camdenton 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 Family Eyecare - Camdenton in Camdenton 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
398 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Dec. 07, 2024
Best Dr and MOST AMAZING staff. Would recommend them anytime to anyone.
- Nov. 21, 2024
Everyone was very friendly - from the greeting to the "see you later"! The virtual eye exam was a f... irst for me but the process was exactly like what it would have been if the Dr was right there... but they were - who knows where!?
- Nov. 19, 2024
Love everyone there! So friendly and professional.
- Nov. 11, 2024
Quick, polite, friendly and professional
- Nov. 11, 2024
The staff is friendly and professional, there was no wait time. The doctor was very personable and t... horough. When my glasses came in which was very fast, I decided I didn’t like how they looked on me, the manager allowed me to pick a new pair and only charged me the difference in the price of the new pair I chose, now that’s impressive! She was very helpful and nice about it, I left feeling really happy I asked if I could change my glasses.
- Nov. 09, 2024
Great job. Easy, friendly, helpful, and fun.
- Oct. 13, 2024
Very Helpful and Friendly. They know what they are doing.
- Oct. 04, 2024
The family at Family Eyecare was incredibly helpful and knowledgable. They worked with me to get an ... appointment quickly and helped me understand my vision needs. I felt confident leaving and Thank you very much Family Eyecare.
- Oct. 01, 2024
Amazing, kind staff!
- Sep. 17, 2024
Great doctor and staff.
- Sep. 02, 2024
Dr Eveland got me out of bifocal glasses I never should have been put into in the first place and go... t me into specific glasses I needed for working on a computer all day. Now my glasses work perfectly for me and see everything clearly.
- Aug. 28, 2024
Great Dr. and staff.
- Aug. 17, 2024
Terrific doc and staff. They WILL try to sell you new frames when you visit, but hey, that’s their... job. Prices are as reasonable as any medical care provider and the staff works to wrap their discounts around your situation as much as possible.
- Aug. 15, 2024
Called 10+ locations for weeks to find an eye doctor that would see my 3 year old, finally scheduled... with Family EyeCare after a recommendation from my father and they got him in within a week. The entire staff was very kind and accommodating. My son loved going here and looks forward to going back to pick up his glasses!
- Jul. 22, 2024
Friendly and helpful
- Jun. 28, 2024
Dr. Eveland is patient, thorough and professional! Danielle is always helpful, efficient and cheerfu... l! Facility is clean and well organized.
- Jun. 23, 2024
Excellent and friendly customer service!!
- Jun. 23, 2024
Our eyecare provider for over 20 years.
- Jun. 16, 2024
Completely satisfied with Dr Eveland and the staff at Family Eyecare in Camdenton! Susan Bubac
- Jun. 10, 2024
Friendly helpful staff. They patient and kind to my 6 year old daughter and always make her feel spe... cial and important.

View All 398 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Camdenton

Our optometry practice in Camdenton

Photograph of Brian  Eveland
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 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.

(573) 346-5951