There are many American currently living with diabetes. These Americans might have trouble regulating their blood sugar levels, leading to complications from diabetes. What's worse, an estimated many people might not know they have diabetes, further leading to complications. One of the more serious complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This is an eye disease that is caused by type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and it can lead to partial or total vision loss. If you have diabetes, it is a good idea to visit an optometrist regularly to prevent diabetic retinopathy.
At Family Vision Clinic serving Farmington, MN, we want to help our clients get help for the diabetic retinopathy, provide long-term eye care, and help prevent complications from this disease. We understand how difficult it can be to live with diabetes and want to do our part to help those with diabetes by providing eye care for diabetic retinopathy.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a type of eye disease caused by the excess buildup of glucose in the eye. This excess glucose is a direct result of uncontrolled type one or type two diabetes. In people with diabetes, it's very difficult to control blood sugar levels without paying close attention to the diet, using medication, or using insulin.
When blood sugar levels get out of control, this can lead to glucose buildup in the eye, which damages the retina. The retina is in the back of the eye, and it focuses light and produces images. In people with diabetic retinopathy, symptoms can include blurry vision, spots in the vision, partial vision loss, and an increase in floaters. As diabetic retinopathy gets worse, your eye might begin to produce new blood vessels, which begin to burst and are not helpful in reversing diabetic retinopathy.
How Can an Optometrist Help Me?
Our optometrist can conduct a full eye exam which includes dilating the eye and conducting a vision test to determine if you're suffering from diabetic retinopathy. She can help slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy by monitoring any changes in your vision.
Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with surgery, however, one of the best treatments is to control your diabetes and control your blood glucose levels to prevent diabetic retinopathy. Our optometrist will also determine if other eye diseases are impacting your vision and provide lifestyle advice so you can prevent diabetic retinopathy from impacting your eye health.
Get Eye Care For your Diabetic Retinopathy with the Help of Our Eye Doctor
At Family Vision Clinic, we're here to provide eye care services to our community members of Farmington, MN. For help with diabetic retinopathy and other eye disorders, call us at (651) 463-2020. Our optometrist is here to provide eye care and optometry services.