Age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma are notorious eye conditions capable of causing vision loss. If you have diabetes, you can add diabetic retinopathy to the list of conditions that can potentially take away your vision. At Atlantic EyeCare in Virginia Beach, we help our patients deal with diabetic retinopathy more effectively.
Before seeking treatment from an optometrist near you, it helps to learn more about the condition you’re dealing with. Use this opportunity to understand diabetic retinopathy better and find out how an optometry specialist can help you.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that specifically damages the blood vessels in your retinas. As those blood vessels sustain damage, they may release fluids that flood your retinal tissues. The fluids seeping into your retinal tissues can cause them to swell. Once that happens, the quality of your vision will start to suffer.
Another type of diabetic retinopathy involves new blood vessels in your retinas quickly releasing blood. All that bleeding can affect your vision. Those new blood vessels can also cause trouble by forming scars. Dealing with diabetic retinopathy can be difficult because it may not register symptoms early on. By the time it causes symptoms, your retinas may have already suffered significant damage. Treating diabetic retinopathy is still possible at that point, but it will be a greater challenge.
How Does an Optometry Specialist Treat Diabetic Retinopathy?
Similar to many other eye conditions, prevention is the best form of treatment for diabetic retinopathy. As soon as you receive a diabetes diagnosis, you should start scheduling regular check-ups with an optometrist near you. Those regular check-ups are critical because they allow your optometrist to monitor your eyes. If they suspect something’s wrong, they can be proactive and prevent it from getting worse. An eye doctor can also help you stave off diabetic retinopathy by providing diet and exercise advice. They may also prescribe medication to help manage your condition.
Surgical intervention may be necessary if your vision has already been compromised by diabetic retinopathy. Your eye doctor can perform laser surgery or a vitrectomy to address your vision problems. The appropriate surgical solution will depend on the specific nature of your condition.
Find Effective Diabetic Retinopathy Management and Treatment
Partner with us at Atlantic EyeCare and stop diabetic retinopathy from taking away your vision. Stop by our office in Virginia Beach so we can work together on your management or treatment plan.