Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment in Lakewood, CO
People with diabetes are more vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy. More than 50 percent of diabetes patients eventually develop one form of diabetic retinopathy.
Are you looking for a diabetic retinopathy specialist in Lakewood, CO? At Denver Vision, we diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy using the most advanced techniques. To find out more about diabetic retinopathy treatments and what you can do to protect your vision, get in touch with us today.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
All diabetic patients are at risk of developing different types of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease caused by elevated blood sugar levels that damages the small blood vessels in the retina.
Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy – In the early phases of diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels supplying your retina with blood and nutrients leak blood or fluids. As a result of the leakage, the retina becomes swollen, seriously impairing your vision and blurring your central vision.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy– As the disease progresses, the blood vessels in the retina keep leaking until they eventually close off. As a result, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow on the surface of the retina. Some blood vessels grow in the wrong place and rupture, causing scarring and more leakage. This leads to serious problems such as vision loss, retinal detachment, and blindness.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy does not present any warning symptoms. Once signs and symptoms manifest, the disease is often in its advanced stages. Without early detection and management, the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy continue to worsen and could potentially lead to vision loss.
Here are some of the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy:
- Difficulty focusing
- Poor night vision
- Dark, empty spots in your field of vision
- Changes in color perception
- Floaters or strings in vision
- Blurred vision
If you have diabetes and exhibit these symptoms, find a specialist trained in detecting and treating diabetic retinopathy and request a comprehensive eye exam today.
What Complications Arise from Diabetic Retinopathy?
The following complications can arise from the worsening of diabetic retinopathy:
Vitreous Hemorrhage
When bleeding flows into the thick fluid that fills the center of the eye, this fluid is called the vitreous gel. If the bleeding isn’t too severe, you may only notice a few dark spots in your vision. If the vitreous hemorrhage is extensive, it might block out your vision completely. However, vitreous hemorrhage alone cannot lead to permanent vision loss.
Retinal Detachment
When diabetic retinopathy progresses to an advanced stage, the blood vessels in the retina keep leaking until they eventually close off. As new blood vessels grow to replace the blocked blood vessels, the blood vessels leak blood and cause scar tissue to grow in your retina. When this scar tissue shrinks, it pulls the retina from its normal position, thus resulting in retinal detachment.
Glaucoma
If the abnormal blood vessels that grow due to diabetic retinopathy grow into your iris, they can cause glaucoma. The blood vessels may block the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, causing a fluid build-up that suddenly increases eye pressure, causing damage to the optic nerve. If left untreated, this severe glaucoma and the other complications from diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness.
Denver Vision Diabetic Eye Doctor
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy or any diabetes-related eye problems in Lakewood, CO? Denver Vision offers advanced treatment options for diabetic retinopathy that can help you save your vision. Contact us today to book an appointment, and our retinopathy specialists will help you determine the next step.
IMG Credit: Causeway