Preserve Your Vision With Logan Eye Care

Diabetic Retinopathy in Lake Mary

Preserve Your Vision With Logan Eye Care

(407) 333-7333

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 Logan Eye Care 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, Logan Eye Care in Lake Mary 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 Logan Eye Care in Lake Mary 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. 20, 2024
Dr. Carol Logan is exceptional. She’s professional, thorough, and patient. She took the time to ex... plain everything, listened to my concerns, and never made me feel rushed. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, making the entire visit smooth and enjoyable. A special thanks to Brad, who recommended the most comfortable contacts I’ve ever worn. Dr. Logan and her team provide excellent care in a welcoming environment. I highly recommend this office for all your eye care needs!
- Nov. 14, 2024
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Dr. Logan is amazing!!
- Nov. 14, 2024
Very professional and helpful. Cici, the optician is the best. Found a very hard to find eyeglass fr... ames that gave me the perfect fit.
- Nov. 07, 2024
All staff members from the front desk to the person taking care of me with getting my new glasses an... d of course the Doctor Who was great! One last thing was the fact that I had hardly any wait time, which I was not used to at all from where I moved from, the west coast of Florida.
- Oct. 24, 2024
This is a great place to have your eyes checked. Staff is friendly and helpful. It is the best eye... care practice in Lake Mary, hands down.
- Oct. 08, 2024
Great service! Detail oriented and professional.
- Oct. 05, 2024
The team here is very attentive and knowledgable. The efficiency is unmatched in any medical office... . Dr. Logan is the most knowledgeable, proficient and thorough optometrist that I have ever gone to.
- Oct. 04, 2024
Great service and great people.
- Oct. 03, 2024
Brad took care of my problem immediately
- Sep. 27, 2024
Great service.
- Sep. 27, 2024
Great staff and service!
- Sep. 16, 2024
Always great customer service and caring team.
- Sep. 05, 2024
Welcoming staff that pays attention to detail and looks out for your best interests. Dr. Logan is si... mply a joy.
- Sep. 02, 2024
Everyone was very professional caring and friendly! Thank you!
- Sep. 01, 2024
Great Dr. and staff. Very knowledgeable and helpful. I’ll definitely stay with Logan Eye Care. I h... ighly recommend them.
- Jul. 18, 2024
This is a practice filled with people who care. They take the time to ask good questions, listen to ... what you have to say, and treat you as just a number
- Jul. 09, 2024
Great staff, efficient and knowledgeable practice.
- Jul. 05, 2024
Great staff and Eye Doctors!
- Jul. 01, 2024
It was a pleasant experience from start to finish! The doctor and staff were very knowledgeable, fri... endly, and caring! Thank you!!!😉
- Jun. 20, 2024
Ive been seeing an optometrist for many decades and this was the most comprehensive examination I’... ve ever had. Dr. Hilderby and the entire staff were welcoming, professional and a pleasure to wok with for my eye care.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Lake Mary

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(407) 333-7333