Preserve Your Vision With Memorial Eye Center - Garth Rd Baytown

Diabetic Retinopathy in Highland Farms

Preserve Your Vision With Memorial Eye Center - Garth Rd Baytown

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


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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 Memorial Eye Center - Garth Rd Baytown 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, Memorial Eye Center - Garth Rd Baytown in Highland Farms 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 Highland Farms

Our optometry practice in Highland Farms

Photograph of Dana  Rader
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross

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
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414 Reviews
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- Mar. 16, 2024
Dr. Ramon is great! He explained everything to me about what was going on with my eyes. He took the ... time to make sure I understood how to use 1 of my samples. The staff was really nice also.
- Mar. 15, 2024
Excellent service from the doctor and the entire staff. Also, great they have a very nice selection ... of frames to pick from.
- Mar. 11, 2024
Fast in and out. Very quick. Eye exam was only 79$!
- Mar. 05, 2024
Most amazing place ever wonderful staff and well trained doctors!
- Mar. 02, 2024
Dr Ramon and Staff are there to help with your optical issues.
- Feb. 27, 2024
Very professional.
- Feb. 27, 2024
Great visit! No long wait time Dr. Radar and the staff was very nice and welcoming! Dr. Radar was ... also very thorough, kind, patient and she listened. Overall, experience was wonderful.
- Feb. 27, 2024
Friendly staff. Easy and excellent to work with. Huge selection of glasses to choose from.
- Jan. 30, 2024
Highly recommend
- Jan. 23, 2024
I highly recommend them. They are very kind they explained everything they believe you have choices ... reasonably priced excellent service would highly recommend to anyone
- Jan. 19, 2024
Service was great
- Dec. 28, 2023
I have been going to Memorial Eye Center (Vision Source) since I accepted the fact that I might need... glasses a couple years ago. A great experience from start to finish. The scheduling process is very easy and now can be done online - you can even verify your insurance and upload your ID card. Dr. Evans is warm and informative. My only complaint has nothing to do with them … it’s me … the frames I am always attracted to happen to be the most expensive … the first time it was Armani, last time Burberry and this time, Prada. Why are the cheapest frames also the ugliest?! In 3 annual check-ups, I’ve yet to walk out without dropping at least $900! And that’s with insurance! Amy was very helpful at maximizing my benefits though.
- Nov. 25, 2023
Great staff, clean office, open appointments, short wait time and glasses collection is diverse
- Nov. 18, 2023
Awesome customer service
- Nov. 10, 2023
Very thorough Staff.
- Oct. 23, 2023
(Translated by Google) Thank you for your service I am very grateful for what you did for me and I w... ill take my wife for a checkup many blessings thank you memorial eye center (Original) Gracias por su servicio estoy muy agradecido por lo qué hicieron por mí y llevaré a mi esposa para un chequeo muchas bendiciones gracias memorial eye center
- Oct. 18, 2023
Great 1st experience for my kids. Doctor and staff are super friendly and explained process during t... esting. Veru knowledgeable. Love the vibe as soon as you walk in.
- Oct. 02, 2023
Great service, friendly staff, fantastic optometrists.
- Oct. 01, 2023
Quality eyeglasses and excellent service
- Sep. 28, 2023
Very knowledgeable staff. Friendly nurses and DR. My daughter loved every minute of her visit. They ... were clear and concise. They explained everything to me in detail & were incredibly understanding.

View All 414 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 Memorial Eye Center - Garth Rd Baytown in Highland Farms 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.

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