Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for adults in the United States today. Sumit Bhatia, MD, at Signature Retina Consultants, provides expert care for diabetic retinopathy in Braidwood, Illinois. If you’ve noticed symptoms like eye floaters, dark areas of vision, difficulty seeing colors, or blurriness, reach out to the practice to book an appointment at your earliest convenience.

What is ​​diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can occur if you’re living with diabetes. Chronically high glucose levels can cause blood vessel damage in the back of your eye, or retina. This can result in blurriness, changes to your vision, or at late stages, blindness. 

If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may not notice symptoms immediately, so it’s important to visit your doctor regularly for checkups. A thorough dilated eye exam at least once a year can help to monitor any early signs of the condition.

If you’re living with diabetes, staying healthy and communicating with your doctor about preventive care options will help you avoid serious complications. 

What are the symptoms of ​​diabetic retinopathy?

If you have diabetes, you may be at risk for diabetic retinopathy. As you age, your risk increases. More than half of people with diabetes eventually develop diabetic retinopathy, which means preventive care is crucial if you notice early symptoms. 

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy depend on how advanced your condition is and may include:

• Eye floaters
• Dark strings in your vision 
• Blurry vision 
• Dark areas or blind spots in your vision 
• Difficulty seeing colors 

Dr. Bhatia offers expert diabetes management and treatment options at all stages of the condition. If you notice any symptoms, schedule an appointment to better understand your options. 

What are diabetic retinopathy treatment options?

Before developing your treatment plan, Dr. Bhatia performs a dilated eye exam. He uses eye drops to widen your pupils so he can inspect for any eye concerns and conditions. He also performs a vision exam to understand your symptoms better. 

Once Dr. Bhatia diagnoses diabetic retinopathy and better understands your stage of the condition, he discusses treatment options with you. These may include: 

• Laser treatments 
• Injection shots in the eye
• Surgery to remove scar tissue or blood
• Eye drops that ease eye pressure 

The goal of your treatment is to stop or prevent any further leakage of your eyes’ blood vessels. Although there’s currently no cure for diabetic retinopathy, treatments along with managing your diabetes can help alleviate any symptoms you’re experiencing. 

If you’re diabetic, keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels can help prevent difficult eye conditions from worsening. Reach out to Signature Retina Consultants by phone or online to discuss your eye care today.