Preserve Your Vision With Advanced EyeCare - Raymore

Diabetic Retinopathy in Raymore

Preserve Your Vision With Advanced EyeCare - Raymore

(816) 322-1872

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 Advanced EyeCare - Raymore 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, Advanced EyeCare - Raymore in Raymore 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 Advanced EyeCare - Raymore in Raymore 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
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116 Reviews
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- Mar. 07, 2024
I have been with this clinic for four years. I have been happy with service and atmosphere. Has been... beautiful. They explain to you every step in the process. Thank you all from the receptionist to the optometrist. Thank you.
- May. 05, 2022
Love this place! I usually go to Americas Best but I had my first appointment here today and they ac... tually took their time to get my vision in check, whereas Americas Best did not. Dr. Harter was very patient with me and found the best prescription for my eyes. I literally can see so much better now! Definitely going to keep coming back here.
- Jul. 01, 2021
Everyone was absolutely wonderful. Our optometrist was extremely through & she even got my husband i... nto an ophthalmologist at a different office just so he could be treated quickly. Can't thank her enough!
- Dec. 11, 2020
10 out of 10! Very Friendly and professional staff! The staff was amazing from check in, to doctor v... isit, to picking out glasses! Very helpful and very informative! Totally recommend!
- Mar. 23, 2020
Dr. Pachy was so great and informative. She really helped explain what was going on with me and i wi... ll continue to come here. The other staff were nice and quick with getting me checked in and on my way.
- Feb. 13, 2020
The staff and Dr are extremely professional and welcoming with every visit. I appreciate the care an... d time they take with every client that visits.
- Jan. 24, 2020
I'm very pleased with my visit. They were very helpful and much more reasonably priced than the las... t place I went to.
- Jan. 24, 2020
Dr. Harter is great, The staff is always very friendly and helpful. They also have a good selectio... n of glasses to choose from. I would highly recommend Advanced Eyecare in Raymore.
- Jan. 17, 2020
Great technoligy eye exams; beautiful office facilities; many styles and brands to choose from; Grea... t, friendly customer service. I highly recommend this location for alk you necessary eyecare needs.
- Jan. 10, 2020
Great experience. All staff was very helpful with choosing a pair of frames. Helpful ideas on ways t... o purchase a pair of glasses.
- Jan. 09, 2020
I’ve been going to Advanced Eye Care for 2 yrs.Dr. Harter is so patient and answered any questions... we had, Jill,Erica,and Laura was very professional and helpful when it came to picking out eyeglass frames. Very highly recommend!!!!!!
- Jan. 07, 2020
Dr. Pachy diagnosed me with rare degenerative eye disease, something that could have been devastatin... g and something that others have missed in the past. She explained it so thoroughly and with such compassion, making sure I understood my options and has monitored my progress. And Laura helped me find the cutest frames! Highly recommend!
- Jan. 07, 2020
Easy to work with and good understanding of my eye needs.
- Dec. 28, 2019
Great experience & friendly staff! Very helpful in picking out glasses. Learned about different op... tions for nose pieces we never knew about! Highly recommend!
- Dec. 17, 2019
This office is amazing. Its always clean and the employees are very professional. Best vision office... around by far.
- Dec. 17, 2019
Super nice staff and doctors. They are very patient and very helpful!
- Dec. 11, 2019
My kids felt comfortable, all staff were kind and friendly and Dr. Answered all my questions. I will... definitely recommend them.
- Dec. 07, 2019
Always super kind here and the soccer doctor rocks!!
- Dec. 05, 2019
Professional, courteous and right on time. Examination w/ optional digital imaging provide excellent... baseline & impressive Dr. Lafreniere OD, FAAO explained very understandably, thank you 👁
- Dec. 05, 2019
I really appreciated the help from all the staff at Advanced Eyecare. They were very helpful with g... oing from always wearing contacts to getting fitted for glasses this time.

View All 116 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Raymore

Our optometry practice in Raymore

Photograph of Lauren  Bozsa
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(816) 322-1872