Preserve Your Vision With Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal

Diabetic Retinopathy in Vestal

Preserve Your Vision With Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal

(607) 722-2020

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 Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal 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, Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal in Vestal 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 Roberts Eyecare Associates - Vestal in Vestal 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
- Sep. 30, 2024
Dr Markowski was excellent..also the staff. I was very impressed.
- Jun. 04, 2024
Roberts Eyecare Associates accommodated my urgent need for same-day doctor appointments. I highly ap... preciate that. The staff and doctor are both very friendly and welcoming.
- Mar. 22, 2024
I wish I was able to give more than 5 stars. Kari at the front desk was extremely helpful and insure... d I left a happy customer. She went over and beyond even calling other establishments so I can get my glasses with the insurance I had. Kari is the definition of a great worker that ensures every patient are being care for.
- Nov. 09, 2023
Good news and bad news… When I arrived for my appointment that was confirmed via phone yesterday t... hey told me they’d texted me Oct 30 (a week ago) to cancel. I checked my txt messages and I did NOT receive a cancellation text. I did however receive a CONFIRMATION text Oct 26. So something is amiss with their communication dept! No problem however as they got me back in next week. The good news…as long as I had a few free minutes I got my glasses adjusted. Candy, the gal that helped me , TOOK HER TIME to get it right! I’d fallen on my face several months ago and got the scratched lenses replaced but the fit was not quite right. Came in one other time to readjust and they still weren’t quite right. Candy spent all of 20+ minutes with me and even replaced the black dots to be sure they were right.THANK YOU CANDY! I truly appreciate your time!! EDIT I once again had the PLEASURE of having Candy attend to my needs. My rather old glasses broke and I didn’t have an appointment for a checkup for about 6 weeks. It was not an easy fix but again Candy took her time and got my glasses going again until I can get new ones in a month or so. THANK YOU AGAIN CANDY! What a valuable employee!
- Sep. 08, 2023
I was totally impressed with my whole experience. The Doctor was very thorough and every person was ... kind and professional.
- Jun. 10, 2023
This place is fast and on time love it! Great quality care!!
- Jun. 07, 2023
They are very friendly and respectful there I always tell people to go there I wouldn't recommend an... y other place
- Jun. 05, 2023
Everything went so smoothly with my appointments—the reception area, office staff, and opticians a... re friendly, kind, and efficient. The ophthalmologist knew exactly what I needed and explained in detail regarding my eyes, my new eyewear, and then fitted me for new contacts with the newest technology. My glasses came in quickly—Thank you to all at Robert’s Eyecare Associates 😀!
- May. 25, 2023
Excellent service, and very detailed. I've been going there for years for this reason. Also, alw... ays extremely friendly.
- May. 17, 2023
Dr Marx provides a great eye exam and a fabulous sense that you just had a sense of knowing your vi... sion is in great hands! Their staff in eyeglass and lens selection is world class as well.
- May. 14, 2023
I I had a follow up appointment after my cataract surgery. they checked my eyes did a few test said ... I was coming along fine. Had to come back in three weeks and get glasses for reading. I was very pleased with the service I got, would recommend them to anyone. Thank you. Judy whitney
- Apr. 28, 2023
Excellent service!
- Apr. 23, 2023
Very friendly staff. Got me in and out quickly.
- Apr. 18, 2023
People were absolutely great. Very nice and very helpful, got me in and out with Very little waiting... time. Definitely one of the best around
- Apr. 12, 2023
Very nice and professional.
- Apr. 09, 2023
I went to Robert's Eye care on the Parkway and have to say is one of the best places I've been, the ... Receptionist's are super nice and knowledgeable about any questions one may have, the eye test I received was fast and was able to get my script and glasses ordered the same day, awesome place, they also have a great selection of Name brand and Designer Frames available at a Great price. I'll continue to go to Robert's Eye care for my Vision needs , thanks for making it a great experience.
- Apr. 07, 2023
Great appointment! Erica, Dr. Ekure and the check-in and check-out staff were all wonderful! A ver... y efficient visit. Thank you!
- Apr. 06, 2023
Robert Eyecare is a busy place. That’s because they’re the best around at what they do. Normally... it’s a pretty long wait to get an appointment there, but… My wife had a scheduled appointment, and we went to it. I was due for a checkup myself, but hadn’t scheduled it yet. When we checked my wife in, the lady at the desk (Anna, thank you!) checked on my chart and asked if we would like to get me checked up also, as they had a cancellation. Of course, yes. And the checkup was smooth and quick and thorough, as always. Anna did not have to check and see if I wanted to get my checkup done that day, but she did. That’s above and beyond.
- Apr. 02, 2023
Everyone was wonderful to work with and helped me find glasses that would fit my needs. Thank you Ro... berts Eye Care
- Mar. 30, 2023
Easy in easy out.

View All 271 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Vestal

Our optometry practice in Vestal

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Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(607) 722-2020