Preserve Your Vision With Harrison Eye Clinic

Diabetic Retinopathy in Paris

Preserve Your Vision With Harrison Eye Clinic

(731) 644-1222

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 Harrison Eye Clinic 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, Harrison Eye Clinic in Paris 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 Harrison Eye Clinic in Paris 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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127 Reviews
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- Nov. 25, 2024
Great service and friendly atmosphere! Recommend to everyone.
- Oct. 16, 2024
Excellent care.
- Sep. 24, 2024
Friendly,an professional
- Sep. 12, 2024
As a diabetic with a family history of blindness due to retinopathy the eye exams are always very te... nse. Dr. Anderson and the staff were beyond amazing. Dr. Anderson was great at making me comfortable with my disease and my prognosis, as well as what her plan of care would be in the future for me. So thankful for all of their time and expertise.
- Aug. 29, 2024
AWESOME STAFF AND EYE DOCTOR!!!
- Aug. 26, 2024
Both my exam and glasses buying experience was great!
- Aug. 16, 2024
Love love love Michelle!!!
- Aug. 08, 2024
Thank you for the wonderful customer service , my daughter left a one start on accident ! So we fixe... d it !!
- May. 18, 2024
Great eye Dr and great staff
- May. 09, 2024
Love Dr Harrison she takes her time and gets your eye needs accurately.
- Apr. 19, 2024
Yesterday was my first visit as I have a business that I am at during the week that is a good distan... ce from my home area. I have to say this group was top notch. Dr. Anderson did a great job explaining everything with me and really took her time in making sure I had the perfect prescription for my eyes. The young lady who fitted me for my glasses was also extremely patient and friendly. I left feeling great knowing when my glasses arrive I will be able to find my golf balls again. 🙂
- Apr. 05, 2024
the most thorough and polite experience I have ever encountered.
- Mar. 12, 2024
Dr. Anderson and her staff were very friendly and courteous!
- Mar. 09, 2024
Fantastic Dr and staff we were treated with respect and they genuinely care about your eye health!
- Nov. 09, 2023
Great service and a friendly atmosphere
- Nov. 06, 2023
We made the switch from a local giant chain store vision center and the difference is phenomenal! I ... feel we get so much better personalized care at Harrison Eye Clinic. Not only that, but the store vision center told me my son’s insurance wouldn’t pay for his glasses and I would have to pay 100% out of pocket. I made him an appointment at Harrison’s and insurance paid 100%! I was not a penny out of pocket! Dr. Harrison as well as Dr. Anderson are both very sweet and kind. You can tell they truly love their job. They are both also wonderful with pediatric patients.
- Oct. 12, 2023
I’m a new patient here and they were super great! My trial contacts were not comfortable on me so ... I had called they got me in 2 days later to come back and Harrison was AMAZING! She knew exactly what was wrong and got it taken care of!! They are very good and very helpful!! I highly recommend them!
- Sep. 01, 2023
Very satisfied!
- Jul. 28, 2023
Fantastic staff and a great Dr. They always take care of me. Best eye Dr in the state.
- Jul. 10, 2023
The staff was very professional, but also, personable and friendly. The office was very clean and fr... esh looking.

View All 127 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Paris

Our optometry practice in Paris

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(731) 644-1222