Preserve Your Vision With Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery - Cross Roads

Diabetic Retinopathy in Cross Roads

Preserve Your Vision With Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery - Cross Roads

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 Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery - Cross Roads 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, Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery - Cross Roads in Cross Roads 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 Cross Roads

Our optometry practice in Cross Roads

Photograph of Heath  Coleman
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas

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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185 Reviews
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- Dec. 07, 2023
Staff is very friendly & accommodating. I saw Dr. Coleman & he was professional & answered all of my... questions. He is top notch!! I highly recommend!!
- Dec. 02, 2023
Great Dr. Thank Dr. Coleman for your superb care!
- Nov. 10, 2023
Can’t say enough good things about the staff here. Great doctor, great help with picking out my fr... ames. So easy and so friendly!
- Nov. 06, 2023
The eye place is very inviting. Both the doctors and employees are very knowledgeable and caring. Gr... eat location to complete both eye exams and purchase glasses or contact.
- Nov. 05, 2023
Great service and friendly staff
- Oct. 20, 2023
Great experience!
- Oct. 07, 2023
Outstanding Optometrists and staff, along with a good variety of frames and sunglasses:)
- Oct. 06, 2023
Friendly, attentive, efficient and quick experience!! Dr. Paul was so kind!
- Oct. 06, 2023
Great staff
- Sep. 11, 2023
Mady & Kathy are the absolute BEST!!!!
- Sep. 06, 2023
Great atmosphere... Fast, caring and efficient service
- Aug. 24, 2023
Great staff and doctors. The staff treated my family. This is our first time at Total Eyecare & Eyew... ear Gallery. They are professional, quick, knowledgeable, and has up-to-date technology. The front staff were very patient with teaching my teen how to use contacts. More patient than I am. The office is welcoming with an upscale ambiance. I've been wearing glasses for about 10 years, Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery is the best office that I have encountered. Keep up the great work!
- Aug. 16, 2023
The Drs at Total Eyecare are the best!!
- Jul. 28, 2023
Maddy is a really great manager.
- Jul. 23, 2023
Cheryl Simmons and her staff go out of their way to provide excellent vision care!
- Jul. 18, 2023
Amazing team! Very attentive and kind.
- Jul. 17, 2023
Excellent service and care!
- Jun. 21, 2023
The staff here are great. Came for the first time last year and this year, when my husband needed a ... new prescription there was a mix up with the glasses he chose. They happily fixed the problem and made sure he had the glasses he wanted with the correct prescription. Can't say enough good things about their customer service. Thank you so much!
- Apr. 07, 2023
The exam was thorough and Dr. Middleton made me feel very comfortable. The entire staff was profess... ional and friendly. Many styles and brands of glasses to choose from.
- Feb. 18, 2023
The entire staff was friendly and helpful. Kathy was stellar in her assistance with helping me navig... ate all of the selections. Top notch customer service.

View All 185 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 Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery - Cross Roads in Cross Roads 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