Preserve Your Vision With Waterford Lakes EyeCare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Orlando

Preserve Your Vision With Waterford Lakes EyeCare

Schedule Eye Exam

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


Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

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 Waterford Lakes EyeCare 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, Waterford Lakes EyeCare in Orlando 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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Orlando

Our optometry practice in Orlando

Photograph of Vijay Nair
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

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.
Patient Reviews
4.7
168 Reviews
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- Nov. 16, 2023
World class service. Very professional team.
- Oct. 13, 2023
Gr8 office and staff!
- Sep. 24, 2023
Great service by Dr Nair
- Sep. 24, 2023
The staff and Doctor were great to deal with. Expert knowledge with insurance coverage for exam, con... tacts and glasses.
- Sep. 23, 2023
Awesome optometrist and staff. I have been a patient for more than 10 years. Never a disappointment....
- Sep. 17, 2023
Great efficient service, received the proper advise & testing for my eye care.
- Sep. 17, 2023
I had a very good expiernce with Waterfor Lakes EyeCare. Everone was very friendly and they took ca... re of all my needs.
- Sep. 07, 2023
Would highly recommend. Great staff that is friendly and knowledgeable. Dr Nair is absolutely awesom... e. Would not go anywhere else for my vision
- Sep. 05, 2023
Professional and customer service friendly.
- Aug. 27, 2023
Office staff is amazing and go above and beyond. They helped me fill and mail the rebate for my cont... acts. They're really good people.
- Aug. 16, 2023
I have been under Dr. Nair's care for several years now and have to rate it the best care that I hav... e received. Not just medically but personally just as well.
- Aug. 14, 2023
Best office service in Florida!
- Aug. 08, 2023
The doctor and staff are very friendly and knowledgeable! They were super patient showing my daughte... r how to put on and remove her contacts. Thank You!
- Aug. 02, 2023
Great back office staff with outstanding eye care. Been going here for years and have never had a ... bad experience. Highly recommend
- Aug. 01, 2023
Excellent service and friendly staff.
- Jul. 31, 2023
Everyone including the doctor is polite, professional, friendly and helpful. They answer all your qu... estions and never push you into buying something from them.
- Jul. 30, 2023
I recommend this doctor and clinic 100%. Before I found them, I typically had to adjust my new presc... ription a few times before they made it right. Here, they always make it right the first time!
- Jul. 29, 2023
Amazing experience! I usually don’t like going to dentist or eye appointments especially alone.Aut... omatically entering this establishment you are greeted, acknowledged, and attentive. What I loved the most was the staff ( one got my name right first try and I got so happy because it’s rare ). They also provide on their countertops a bin that’s says “please take one”.
- Jul. 29, 2023
Always a pleasure to come here. Everyone is friendly and very helpful.
- Jul. 27, 2023
Always great service and care. Highly recommend Waterford EyeCare

View All 168 Reviews

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 Waterford Lakes EyeCare in Orlando 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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam