Best Ways to Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy

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If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, your Champaign, IL optometrist wants you to know that you carry a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy than others. Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that threatens your vision. Left undiagnosed and untreated, you could go completely blind, and there may be little to nothing done to reverse it. As with other diseases, the best course of action is to prevent it from happening to begin with. Here are some of the best ways to prevent diabetic retinopathy.

Have Frequent Eye Exams

When you have diabetes, it’s imperative to see your optometrist more than once a year. If you make visits once every three months, early signs of the development of diabetic retinopathy are more likely to be picked up. If anything is found, then preventative treatment can begin.

Manage the Underlying Condition

As well as seeing your optometrist more often, you should be sure to visit your treating physician for diabetes as directed. This will ensure that the underlying condition is being properly managed and, hopefully, doesn’t worsen.

Follow Recommendations

Whether recommendations are coming from your optometrist or from your general practitioner, it’s essential that you follow their instructions for managing your diabetes or pre-diabetes at home. If you cheat and continue to overeat sugar, continue to drink, smoke or skip injections, you’re only cheating yourself and increasing the odds of developing diabetic retinopathy. If you need help altering your lifestyle and changing bad habits, contact professionals who can help with tips and resources.

Your vision is priceless and it’s important that you do everything you can to protect and preserve it. Use this advice to help you prevent diabetic retinopathy in Champaign, IL from stealing your eyesight. Contact your optometrist today to book your next eye exam and to learn more.

Can Diabetes Affect Your Eyesight?

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Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. One of the lesser-known complications of diabetes is its effect on your eyesight. In this article, we will discuss how diabetes can affect your eyes and what you can do to prevent and manage diabetic-related eye problems.

The experienced team at Champaign Eye Professionals of Champaign, IL, is proud to serve the local community with premium eye care services, including treating and diagnosing issues that relate to diabetes, regardless of their severity.

What are Diabetic Related Eye Problems?

Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to several eye problems, including:

  1. Diabetic retinopathy – a condition that damages the blood vessels in the retina and can cause vision loss.
  2. Diabetic macular edema – swelling in the macula, which can cause blurry vision and potentially lead to vision loss.
  3. Glaucoma – a condition that damages the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss if left untreated.

The symptoms of diabetic-related eye problems can vary depending on the condition, but common symptoms include the following:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Eye floaters or spots
  • Eye pain or pressure
  • Difficulty seeing in low light
  • Loss of peripheral vision

Your Quality Eye Care Provider

We understand the importance of early detection and treatment of diabetic-related eye problems. Our team of experienced professionals uses the latest technology and techniques to diagnose and treat these conditions effectively. Our clinic is also dedicated to educating and supporting our patients to help them manage their diabetes and reduce their risk of developing eye problems. Our goal is to provide quality care and ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

During your next appointment with the trained team at Champaign Eye Professionals of Champaign, IL, you can be confident that you are receiving the best care and guidance you and your family deserve.

Development of Diabetic Retinopathy

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Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that causes eye damage. It can lead to partial or full vision loss, but can be prevented with proper management and early detection by youreye doctor in Champaign, IL . The condition can affect anyone with diabetes.

Development of diabetic retinopathy begins with damage to the tiny blood vessels in the eye, known as microaneurysms. These may leak fluid into the retina. This fluid can then build up, and it can even damage the optic nerve. When this occurs, people with diabetic retinopathy need to see an eye specialist as soon as possible, if they haven’t already.

Surgery May be Needed

Some new blood vessels form in the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. The new blood vessels grow and leak easily, which can interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye. If this happens, patients need to undergo surgery to seal these leaks.

Diabetes a Major Factor

Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy are at high risk for loss of sight. In some cases, this condition can progress to the point where it can cause scar tissue to form on the back of the eye, which can detach the retina.

Risk Factors For Diabetic Retinopathy

Various risk factors are associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy. People with an untreated or unknown condition of diabetes are at higher risk, as are those who have certain genetic predispositions. Those who have suffered with more than 15 years of diabetes are at an even higher risk.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Although there are different treatment options for the disease, the goal is to prevent it from causing any visual impairment. For acomprehensive eye exam in Champaign, IL, where the development of diabetic retinopathy may be detected, please contact our office today.

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Common Eye Conditions: Diabetic Retinopathy

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Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that occurs in those with diabetes. High levels of sugar in the blood cause the formation of abnormal blood cells in the retina. If left untreated, this condition can lead to total vision loss. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s important to have your vision checked regularly by youreye doctor in Champaign, IL, and to learn how to effectively manage your diabetes.

How Will I Know If I Have Diabetic Retinopathy? 

The earliest stages of this progressive eye disease may have no symptoms, but as it worsens, you may notice signs such as:

  • Blurry vision
  • Floaters
  • Dark spots in your vision
  • Vision loss

Vision that has been lost due to diabetic retinopathy cannot be regained. However, by effectively managing your diabetes and keeping regular appointments for dilated eye exams, you can prevent your vision loss from worsening.

Who Is At Risk of Developing Diabetic Retinopathy? 

Anyone who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. Because high levels of sugar in the bloodstream make it difficult for blood to make it to the retina, blood flow becomes obstructed and new blood vessels try to form. But these blood vessels usually don’t develop as they should, and they begin to leak blood and to form scar tissue that can cause retinal detachment. Your best defense against diabetic retinopathy is to learn how to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and take good care of your eyes.

Help for Diabetic Retinopathy in Champaign, IL

For help withdiabetic retinopathy in Champaign, IL, call on Champaign Eye Professionals. The dedicated clinicians at Champaign Eye Professionals are happy to schedule you for a comprehensive eye exam to help diagnose diabetes-related conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Call today to book your appointment.

What Is a Diabetic Eye Exam?

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Have you been recently diagnosed with diabetes? If so, then you may need a diabetic eye exam. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we offer eye exams that look inside the eye. We can catch a variety of conditions that often impact people with diabetes. To schedule your eye exam, contact your trusted eye doctor in Champaign, IL.

What Is a Diabetic Eye Exam?

A diabetic eye exam is an eye exam that looks into the eyes to check for diseases that disproportionately affect people with diabetes. These conditions include glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic eye exams can help catch these conditions in their early stages, which can help save the patient’s vision.

What Happens During a Diabetic Eye Exam?

During a diabetic eye exam, the eye doctor will dilate your eyes to look inside for signs of conditions like glaucoma. Your eye doctor may also use a test called fluorescein angiography to check for damaged blood vessels in the eyes.

Why Is It Important to Get a Diabetic Eye Exam?

Some high-risk conditions, like glaucoma, display few or no symptoms when in the early stages. The only way to find out if you also have a condition like glaucoma is to go to the eye doctor.

If you do have this condition, your eye doctor can work with you to keep your condition under control. While there is no cure for glaucoma, treatments can slow the progression of the symptoms.

Need a diabetic eye exam in Champaign, IL? Contact Champaign Eye Professionals. We offer comprehensive eye exams in Champaign, IL, to help patients like you maintain healthy eyes. Call today to get on the schedule!

3 Things That Occur within Your Eyes When Your Blood Sugar Levels Are Too High

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From managing diabetic retinopathy in Champaign, IL to tending to changes in your vision, your blood sugar levels can mean more trips to an eye doctor for help. However, you can thwart some of your risks of facing these problems by keeping your blood glucose levels in check. Take a look at some of the things that occur within your eyes when your blood sugar levels are too high.

The lens of your eye can swell

It is quite common for people to feel like their vision is blurry when their blood sugar levels are too high. This may not always be a permanent vision change. In fact, the problem can come about because the high glucose levels in your blood cause the lens of the eye to swell. As blood glucose levels return to normal, the inflammation may subside.

Pressure can build within the eye

The swelling in your eye can make it impossible for the fluids within the eye to drain properly. Therefore, when your eyes swell due to high blood sugar, this can mean the eye also faces more internal pressure than usual. Unfortunately, this can lead to risks of glaucoma.

Small blood vessels in the retina may sustain damage

The small blood vessels in the retina are sensitive to the changes in blood flow and fluid circulation that come along with high blood sugar levels. Over time, if high levels occur too frequently, this damages these small blood vessels, and permanently affects vision. This is what leads to the condition known as diabetic retinopathy.

Talk to a Champaign, IL Eye Doctor About Vision Care and Diabetes

When you have diabetes, vision health management in Champaign, IL becomes even more important. Talk to your eye doctor about steps you can take with diabetes management to protect the health of your eyes. Reach out to us at Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule an appointment.

Champaign Eye Professionals – The Importance of Diabetic Eye Care

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Diabetes is a disease that attacks different areas of the body, including your eyes. This is why it’s vital to see your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, regularly, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. Early intervention may help prevent diabetes-related eye problems, including vision loss.

How Diabetes Affects the Eyes

Diabetes is marked by high levels of sugar in your blood. Over time, this can cause several eye-related conditions that could lead to permanent vision loss if left undetected or untreated. These conditions include:

  • Cataracts
  • Blurred Vision
  • Glaucoma
  • Diabetic Retinopathy

All are serious concerns, and all require regular visits to your eye doctor to keep them from worsening.

What Are Cataracts?

Cataracts are marked by a cloudy film that develops on the lens of the eye. As the film grows, it becomes more and more difficult to see clearly. Through routine eye exams and regular eye care, your eye doctor can intervene before cataracts worsen. Treatment options include prescription eyeglasses or, in more serious cases, removing your cloudy lens and replacing it with one that’s artificial.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma damages your optic nerve, and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. This condition causes patchy blind spots in your vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, headache, and more. Treatment includes lowering the pressure inside your eyes and learning how to effectively manage your diabetes.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the retina at the back of your eye. It may cause your vision to blur or may cause “blind” or “dark” spots in your vision. To protect your vision, you should keep regular appointments with your eye doctor and primary care provider who can help you learn to manage your diabetes.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with diabetes in Champaign, IL, follow up with an eye exam at Champaign Eye Professionals today.