Preserve Your Vision With Wentzville Eye Center

Diabetic Retinopathy in Wentzville

Preserve Your Vision With Wentzville Eye Center

(636) 639-5004

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 Wentzville Eye Center 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 bulgesโ€“or microaneurysmsโ€“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, Wentzville Eye Center in Wentzville 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 Wentzville Eye Center in Wentzville 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
4.6
324 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Sep. 02, 2024
Amazing staff. Always has a wide selection of frames fast and friendly service.
- Aug. 09, 2024
Friendly, knowledgeable staff
- Aug. 02, 2024
Great service with ease.
- Jul. 05, 2024
Easy wonderful experience
- Jun. 13, 2024
Dr Kilgore is very knowledgeable and pleasant
- Jun. 06, 2024
I have been going here for years and I have never had a negative experience, itโ€™s always been posi... tive Everyone is so nice and answer all my questions The staff is so sweet!!!
- May. 22, 2024
Dr Kilgore was so kind and helpful and addressed all my needs, and listened to all my concerns. The ... rest of the stuff was so friendly and patient! Great experience!
- Apr. 26, 2024
You guys are amazing. So patient and knowledgeable. I really appreciate it ๐Ÿ™‚
- Apr. 25, 2024
Really good experience with this provider! The doctor was great and the staff was really helpful.
- Apr. 25, 2024
Nothing but great things to say about Wentzville eye center.
- Apr. 10, 2024
Great people with big hearts. Thank You
- Mar. 11, 2024
Excellent doctors. Friendly staff. Affordable price. And on time with appointments. I highly rec... ommend Wentzville Eye Center.
- Mar. 01, 2024
Great place the ladies are very helpful & the atmosphere is pleasant. The Dr. is compassionate & wil... l get ya seeing straight in no time.
- Feb. 20, 2024
Great staff and products to meet your visual needs. Check them out!
- Feb. 11, 2024
Friendly staff
- Dec. 05, 2023
Very friendly and attentive to my eye care needs. I felt very comfortable and really trusted their o... pinion. Very genuine office. Would most definitely recommend them to my family and friends.
- Nov. 17, 2023
Professional and friendly
- Oct. 29, 2023
Everybody is super great and friendly!
- Oct. 25, 2023
Would highly recommend! Great selection of frames and friendly staff!
- Oct. 25, 2023
Staff was so nice and welcoming.

View All 324 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Wentzville

Our optometry practice in Wentzville

Photograph of Abby  Kilgore
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Aetna
  • Anthem
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • Medicaid
  • MetLife

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(636) 639-5004