Preserve Your Vision With Hill Country Vision Center - Stone Oak

Diabetic Retinopathy in Stone Oak

Preserve Your Vision With Hill Country Vision Center - Stone Oak

(210) 495-9020

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 Hill Country Vision Center - Stone Oak 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, Hill Country Vision Center - Stone Oak in Stone Oak 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 Hill Country Vision Center - Stone Oak in Stone Oak 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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386 Reviews
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- Oct. 04, 2024
This is a great optometry office with professional and friendly optometrist and staff. Office employ... s great communication.
- Aug. 24, 2024
Staff and Dr. McNabb are so friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend!
- Aug. 09, 2024
Efficient, comprehensive, lots of patience and friendly. 💯
- Aug. 08, 2024
Professional and friendly doctors and staff.
- Aug. 02, 2024
Dr. Ip and Dr. Conner took great care of our eye needs, significantly improving on what we had exper... ienced previously. They were both friendly and took the time to explain things to us. The staff and eye glass specialist were also very friendly and professional. Pricing was competitive and they were willing to price match on contact lenses when I identified a better price elsewhere. Overall a great experience and our vision provider of choice going forward.
- Jul. 31, 2024
Both of our children require vision needs. Ages 9 and 10. We have been to several eye drs. Dr. McNab... b is far and away the most thourough and professional dr we have seen to date. I only wish we ended up here sooner. Do your child a solid and go visit Hill Country Vision.
- Jul. 05, 2024
Staff and providers are extremely kind and patient. Love this office!
- Jul. 04, 2024
Very friendly folks.
- Jul. 02, 2024
Solid staff, caring, patient, and attentive. I've been going, along with my whole family, for years... . Highly recommended!!
- Jul. 02, 2024
Dr. McNabb genuinely cares for his patients. He is extremely professional and competent. The whole t... eam is friendly and provide a great experience. I highly recommend.
- Jun. 30, 2024
Nice clean store, the staff and in particular Julie, are very friendly. Dr. McNabb demonstrates sinc... ere interest and care for his patients.
- Jun. 08, 2024
I can't believe I haven't posted in the past. I absolutely love my optometrist, Dr. Allison!! She is... the absolute best. Her tech, Kiyona, is amazing. They are both very knowledgeable and make you feel right at home. I've been with them for over 5 years and I don't intend on going anywhere else.
- May. 13, 2024
Staff is friendly and thorough. Dr. McNabb is knowledgeable and kind.
- May. 09, 2024
I have been coming here for a couple years, great staff and glasses.
- May. 04, 2024
very friendly staff and my prescription glasses came out so accurate!!
- Apr. 20, 2024
Dr. Ip was very knowledgeable, professional, and thorough. Great experience.
- Apr. 20, 2024
My daughter and I had a great experience here
- Apr. 20, 2024
I love this place. Everyone is so friendly. They squeezed me in because I ran out of contacts. I was... in and out in about one hour. They even price-matched a year supply of contacts and gave me complimentary contacts until my order comes in. The doctor was thorough, the place is super clean, and they have complimentary coffee and water. I don’t buy glasses, but the frame selection looks great. It’s a 30-minute drive from my house but so worth it!
- Mar. 31, 2024
Very nice office.
- Mar. 02, 2024
Dr Ip was wonderful and took her time with me to perfect my prescription. I have had vision issues i... ncluding optic neuritis and she was very thorough and helpful with my questions and concerns about my vision. The staff up front (totally forgot their names!) Was extremely kind and helpful with my shopping experience. I was definitely picky and they gave me great options and input on the various frames for my face shape and eyes etc. I will be back again and again!

View All 386 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Stone Oak

Our optometry practice in Stone Oak

Photograph of Conner  McNabb
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(210) 495-9020