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Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is a severe disease, and it affects many of your body's systems, including your eyes. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes the blood vessels in the retina to leak. It can also cause abnormal blood vessels to form. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but the professionals at Naples Eye Physicians can create a treatment plan to slow the disease's progression.

Who Is at Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy?

Although anyone with diabetes can develop this condition, some factors can increase your chances of developing the condition, including:

  • The longer you have diabetes, the greater the chance of you getting this condition.
  • Poor control of your blood sugar
  • Having high cholesterol
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Being pregnant
  • Being Hispanic, Native American, or African-American
  • Using tobacco products

What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Diabetic Retinopathy?

In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy often shows no symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms can occur.

  • Blurry vision
  • Fluctuating vision
  • Impaired color vision
  • Seeing spots or dark strings in your vision, called floaters
  • Empty or dark spots in your vision
  • Vision loss

How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosed?

Diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed during your annual eye exam. If you have diabetes, our eye doctors will look for abnormal blood vessels, blood in the retina, bleeding in the vitreous, the growth of new blood vessels, abnormalities in the optic nerve, and retinal detachment.

Contact Us for Treatment from Our Ophthalmologists in Naples

If you have diabetes, it is essential that you schedule an annual eye exam with our team at Naples Eye Physicians. Our ophthalmologists will test your eyes to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy. If the condition is caught early, treatment can begin early to prevent vision loss. To find out how we can help your eye and vision care, give us a call today.