Preserve Your Vision With Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon

Diabetic Retinopathy in Irwin

Preserve Your Vision With Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon

(724) 864-7777

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 Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon 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, Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon in Irwin 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 Your Family Eye Doctors - North Huntingdon in Irwin 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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235 Reviews
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- Oct. 22, 2024
No waiting smooth process thorough Dr exam. Perfectly uneventful.
- Oct. 19, 2024
Nice office. Clean and bright. Very helpful staff.
- Sep. 26, 2024
Dr Campana is very friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and thorough. He always takes time to explain... everything and answer any questions I may have.
- Sep. 20, 2024
Wonderfully professional and knowledgeable people!
- May. 24, 2024
Excellent experience! Dr. Maggie Nikituk was wonderful…she was very knowledgeable, friendly, answe... red all of my questions, on time, and provided a great experience overall. I highly recommend this office and Dr. Nikituk as an Optometrist. You can tell she truly cares about her patients and she provides a comfortable atmosphere for everyone!
- May. 09, 2024
Dr. Campana and staff are fantastic - very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. I feel very co... mfortable asking questions and expressing concerns without feeling rushed.
- Mar. 22, 2024
Dr Campana is the absolute best as well as his staff! Everyone is so kind and professional! I would ... recommend this office to anyone looking for eye care!
- Mar. 01, 2024
Quick and precise. Friendly and professional. Glasses a week later.
- Feb. 01, 2024
Great experience. Efficient & quick process from start to finish! Staff was nice & welcoming! Small ... selection of glasses but a vast array of different styles to choose from!
- Jan. 18, 2024
Very customer friendly!
- Dec. 30, 2023
I highly recommend using the services of Your Family Eye group in N. Huntingdon. Every employee I de... alt with during my exam was professional and knowledgeable.
- Dec. 30, 2023
Awesome care!
- Dec. 16, 2023
Very friendly and caring employees at fair prices for glasses and contacts
- Nov. 14, 2023
Very professional & thorough! I feel I am getting the ultimate care for my vision
- Oct. 08, 2023
Dr Ron and the staff are the best!
- Sep. 14, 2023
Great staff. Awesome doctor!
- Jul. 29, 2023
My symptoms were taken seriously, and I was examined thoroughly within a couple of hours after I ca... lled. Never a bad experience here!
- Jul. 21, 2023
Friendly staff
- Jul. 07, 2023
Dr. Nikituk was awesome. So helpful with my dry eye issues. Inserted punctal plugs at my last vist. ... Huge improvement. The staff is great and I've always received great service and care with exams and eyeglasses
- Jun. 30, 2023
I had metal in my eye from a work injury. The staff got me in to see the doctor right away. The ... doctor repaired my eye within minutes of my arrival. Great staff and great doctors.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Irwin

Our optometry practice in Irwin

Photograph of Chris  Cakanac
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(724) 864-7777