Preserve Your Vision With Envision Optics

Diabetic Retinopathy in East El Paso

Preserve Your Vision With Envision Optics

(915) 591-8800

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 Envision Optics 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, Envision Optics in East El Paso 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 Envision Optics in East El Paso 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
- Nov. 08, 2024
Everyone here was so genuinely kind during my visit. Made my experience great!
- Apr. 05, 2024
The service was great! Loved how thorough my exam was and the customer service was awesome.
- Sep. 02, 2022
Excellent service, friendly staff and great atmosphere. Even if I didn’t have vision coverage, I w... ould pay out of pocket. Hands down, the best eye place!
- May. 04, 2022
My experience was awesome. This was my first visit outside of military care. The staff was very prof... essional and I was seen on time. The intake nurse was very thorough on my health history and made me feel at ease. The doctor and the nurse knew what my insurance covered, and what it did not. I specifically told the doctor what I needed and he obliged. I will definitely return next year.
- Dec. 09, 2021
Always a pleasant visit very helpful and great selections
- Dec. 03, 2021
Dr. Soto was very thorough, staff did an amazing job helping me with my glasses.
- Jul. 20, 2020
2m ago was my very first time to the George Dieter office and I was treated extremely nice. I love t... hat their door was locked to keepceveryonevsafe, they greeted me at the door and took my temp let me clean my gloved hands. Nothing but safe. I found my new eye clinic. Thank you.
- Mar. 25, 2020
I love it there, the service is always great. And the doctors as well
- Sep. 21, 2019
In my 64 years of living, this was the most thorough eye exam I've ever had. Dr. McIntosh took the t... ime to explain each test and the results. The entire staff was very courteous and professional, getting me in and out with almost no waiting time. This is the place to go for your eyecare needs.
- Aug. 28, 2019
Really great Dr and superb support staff. Excellent prices on higher end frames like Ray-Ban and eve... n Harley Davidson. Unbelievable turn-around time from visit to ready for pickup, under a week! Will be bringing the family here for their yearly exams too.
- Jul. 07, 2019
So I drove 3 Hours to this office and was amazed at the fantastic service. The technician was fast a... nd helpful, Andrew was funny and friendly, and Arturo was absolutely fantastic. Very insightful team. Making the trip to go back. Also helped us around El Paso and have good insight on other things!
- Jun. 12, 2019
They are such a joy to work with. Friendly. They do there best to make you happy.
- Sep. 12, 2018
Customer service is outstanding the ladies really helped me out when i suddenly found myself out of ... lenses and in a real bind
- Aug. 23, 2018
Doctor Z changed my life ❤️. My eyes are so bad. He suggested contacts and glasses combo. I coul... d play with my baby and toddler without having to worry about my glasses but still see their faces. Life changing Mom moments 🥹.
- Mar. 13, 2018
Took in a pair of glasses to ask for adjustments. They were cheerful and quick to fix the glasses a... t no charge for my Dad.
- Jun. 27, 2017
Very good place and great service

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in East El Paso

Our optometry practice in East El Paso

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(915) 591-8800