Preserve Your Vision With North Range Eye Care

Diabetic Retinopathy in Commerce City

Preserve Your Vision With North Range Eye Care

(720) 499-8349

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 North Range Eye Care 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, North Range Eye Care in Commerce City 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 North Range Eye Care in Commerce City 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
4.8
316 Reviews
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- Oct. 04, 2024
BLUETIFUL & KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF, they blew my eye balls mind..I was very impressed with care & optio... ns they offered…but if you need your eye balls massaged, it’s the perfect place… oh you don’t know what that feels like, guess you need to get over there & experience eye ball care & love… but that’s just how I felt..well how about you be their guess & find out for yourself….
- Oct. 01, 2024
Providers are knowledgeable, thorough, and took time to explain my condition. My new prescription ... is working well, and I will be back again whenever I need eye care.
- Sep. 25, 2024
Friendly and competent staff with a welcoming environment. Definitely recommend!
- Sep. 15, 2024
Great customer service from the staff. You can easily tell they care about their clients, I would re... commend them to everyone,
- Sep. 13, 2024
Dr. Hite is excellent. He takes his time, doesn't rush your appointment, and answers questions with... thoughtfulness and informed feedback. Also, the personnel at the front desk are enjoyable, helpful and establishing an appointment and answering questions, and made me feel valued.
- Aug. 15, 2024
Great service and staff. Very kind and professional which made my appointment easy
- Jul. 14, 2024
I've been going here for years. Really appreciate them knowing my eye history. And having a plan mov... ing forward. Friendly and professional.
- Jun. 25, 2024
Love love love this optometrist. I love my contacts and their glasses selection is good. You’re ... able to get all your needs met in one place. Customers service is excellent and they care for you and your family.
- Jun. 06, 2024
Great staff and care!
- May. 25, 2024
The Best!!!! I love the doctor's and team. They are all very kind, knowledgeable and empathic. I'm a... lways greeted with a smile and a warm greeting when I come in. The doctor's are outstanding and the best I've ever experienced. The office is cute, clean and there are tons of beautiful glasses to purchase for men and woman. If your reading this review and looking for the best of the best-look no further. I love this team.
- May. 22, 2024
Dr. Hite and his staff go above and beyond expectation.
- May. 13, 2024
Very friendly professional and overall every time I have an appointment I have the best experience.
- May. 10, 2024
Great place to have you eye care taken care of. Friendly people, easy scheduling and great facility....
- May. 05, 2024
The people are super nice and the place was spotless.
- Apr. 19, 2024
Very professional office, the staff is pleasant.
- Apr. 15, 2024
This office is my all-time-favorite eye office! The staff is always incredibly friendly and helpful,... and the doctors are attentive and caring.
- Apr. 11, 2024
Very good.
- Apr. 09, 2024
Great service, very professional
- Apr. 06, 2024
Very satisfied with their staff and facility. They make you feel like you are the only patient ther... e during your appointment.
- Mar. 29, 2024
This is my 4th year in a row going to them. I have never had a bad experience there. Everyone is sup... er friendly and very professional. Plus, they never try to push any procedure and/or product on you. I will keep going there for as long as I can!

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Commerce City

Our optometry practice in Commerce City

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Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(720) 499-8349