Preserve Your Vision With Great Falls Eyecare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Great Falls

Preserve Your Vision With Great Falls Eyecare

(703) 759-0061

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 Great Falls Eyecare 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, Great Falls Eyecare in Great Falls 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 Great Falls Eyecare in Great Falls 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.


Meet our Diabetic Retinopathy Specialists

Patient Reviews
4.9
113 Reviews
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- Oct. 15, 2024
Dr. Anderson is great, recommend her 100%
- Jun. 20, 2024
Dr. Runke is great! Highly recommend!
- Jun. 14, 2024
Dr. Runke is thorough with a gentle nature symbiotically merging historical experiences with predict... ive analytics.
- Mar. 26, 2024
Dr. Runke provided a thorough eye exam as always. Staff are friendly and helpful. I highly recommend... Dr. Runke and Great Falls Eyecare!
- Feb. 21, 2024
My wife and I have been at this Great Falls eye are for over 20 years. Wonderful staff, they are fri... endly and knowledgeable. This eye care is very clean and has a variety of glasses to choose, I would recommend to anyone who needs an eye care.
- Feb. 06, 2024
I have received top quality eye care at Great Falls Eyecare for over 10 years now! The doctors are ... expert and professional, listen to you and very patiently answer your questions. I highly recommend this practice!
- Jan. 06, 2024
Thank you Dr. Runke for great service I received from you and staff.
- Jan. 05, 2024
Great staff and the doctors are friendly and informative. If you have questions they answer them unt... il you have no more and they give it to you straight.
- Dec. 29, 2023
Incredibly friendly and welcoming staff - Dr. Runke even sent a personalized thank you card. Incredi... bly thoughtful and great service.
- Dec. 20, 2023
I am very happy to have landed an appointment with Dr. Runke. All testing and results were thoroughl... y explained.
- Dec. 03, 2023
Professional, courageous and great service
- Oct. 25, 2023
I have been seeing Dr. Runke for several years. I really enjoy working with the whole team at Great ... Falls Eyecare. Dr. Runke has so much expertise, I feel privileged to have her taking care of my eyes.
- Oct. 24, 2023
Dr. Runke was attentive and competent. She conducted a thorough exam and provided new eyeglass presc... riptions for which the glasses are being made .i recommend Great falls highly.
- Oct. 21, 2023
Dr. Runke is a wonderful optometrist who takes the time to really understand your needs. Up todate t... ecnology and a comprehensive exam. She is far superior to my previous optometrist. The staff is also lovely - warm and professional. I highly recommend this practice.
- Oct. 21, 2023
I had a great experience with the team at Great Falls Eye Care. From the moment I walked in to the m... oment I left, everyone was professional, kind, and helpful. I can't wait to get my new glasses, and I'll definitely be a repeat customer.
- Oct. 18, 2023
Perfection.
- Oct. 11, 2023
Wonderful eye care practice! Thorough exams, prescribed a brilliant prescription so that I can see f... ar and read without readers. So thankful and grateful!
- Sep. 23, 2023
Excellent service and staff! Doctors are very patient explaining you in detail what is going on and... any question you have . Thank you very much Great Falls Eye Center!
- Aug. 20, 2023
Dr. Anderson, Jodi, and the receptionists were all great in every aspect! Best experience I've had a... t an optometrist.
- Jul. 31, 2023
We have been patients of Dr. Runke for more than 20 years. After a recent move to Miami, we still co... me back to see her. And it's worth it.

View All 113 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Great Falls

Our optometry practice in Great Falls

Photograph of Lisa  Anderson
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Please call office for hours.
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Medicare Part B
  • United Healthcare
  • VSP

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(703) 759-0061