Preserve Your Vision With Cape Cod Vision Associates

Diabetic Retinopathy in Falmouth

Preserve Your Vision With Cape Cod Vision Associates

(508) 540-3937

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 Cape Cod Vision Associates 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, Cape Cod Vision Associates in Falmouth 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 Cape Cod Vision Associates in Falmouth 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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125 Reviews
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- Nov. 24, 2024
Dr Childs and his Staff were warm, accommodating and had the most advanced technology to do a comple... te assessment of my eyes. VERY IMPRESSED!
- Nov. 15, 2024
Everybody at this business was friendly, cordial, and professional! From being checked in, to evalua... ted, and seen by Dr. Childs it was 100% positive experience
- Nov. 02, 2024
Awesome, caring, well organized office. Always a great experience.
- Oct. 29, 2024
All staff are very helpful, accommodating and listened to my concerns. It was wonderful experience ... from start to finish!
- Oct. 14, 2024
The team at Cape Cod Vission does a great job ! Highly recommend
- Sep. 17, 2024
Always a great experience in the office, I was happy to return after moving back to Falmouth.
- Aug. 27, 2024
Great service
- Jul. 26, 2024
Always a very pleasant experience 😀
- Jul. 01, 2024
Great
- May. 31, 2024
Always professional, friendly, helpful and informative.
- Apr. 18, 2024
I can’t say enough about this office. From the minute you walk in . Everyone in this office is ama... zing. Of course Dr. Child is the best. Can’t say enough about this office. 5 star for sure.
- Apr. 16, 2024
Always great to deal with super professional people.
- Apr. 05, 2024
A quick an easy exam with the very professional staff at Cape Cod Vision.
- Feb. 20, 2024
Always a great experience! I've been seeing Dr. Childs since I was 12 years old. I wouldn't go to an... yone else.
- Feb. 07, 2024
Very friendly office & helpful to my needs. Dr Child deals with my vision problems the best and I ha... ve been coming to him for years.
- Jan. 25, 2024
Dr Child’s is awesome! Listens to my concerns anytime I have an issue, he has a plan.. our family ... has been going to him for several years.. the entire office is always welcoming and very helpful!
- Jan. 16, 2024
Outstanding, Superb, Fantastic....there are not enough adjectives to describe the great friendly and... very professional service that we always receive there. They are more thorough than my regular ophthalmologist and detect the same conditions...and then some! Both my wife and I heartily recommend Cape Cod Vision!!
- Jan. 04, 2024
Been going here for about 20 years. Always a very good and professional experience. Dr. and Staff ... are excellent. Highly recommend.
- Dec. 05, 2023
Very professional staff, friendly and knowledgeable. But the price of the glasses is a bit high over... all a good experience.
- Nov. 21, 2023
Extremely professional from the minute you walk through the door.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Falmouth

Our optometry practice in Falmouth

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(508) 540-3937