Preserve Your Vision With ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa

Diabetic Retinopathy in Alamosa

Preserve Your Vision With ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa

719-589-2020

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 ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa 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, ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa in Alamosa 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 ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa in Alamosa 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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- Sep. 20, 2024
Good service
- Jul. 24, 2024
(Translated by Google) The doctor is very good and very kind and the staff is also very friendly! it... feels good (Original) La doctora es muy buena y muy amable y el personal también muy amable! sa siente uno bien
- Jul. 22, 2024
The doctors are very helpful and educational, the staff is super respectful and kind
- Jul. 18, 2024
From the 1st phone call I made to this office the staff were all so accommodating and helpful. Then... when I decided to get my annual exam there I really appreciated and liked the new technology they use to complete the exam. I highly recommend ABBA Eye Care in Alamosa, CO and I had to drive 71 miles to get there because I live in small mountain town in SE Colorado.
- Apr. 15, 2024
Dr. Sicco is always attentive and listens to all of my concerns. The staff is always friendly and h... elpful.
- Mar. 20, 2024
Sick great professionalism. I recommend ABBA Eye Care to everybody.
- Mar. 06, 2024
Wow what a wonderful place! Parking & Road access are bit dicey but that is Alamosa! The entire staf... f is welcoming, knowledgeable and professional. Thank you. Abba eye care!
- Jan. 30, 2024
As an artist my eyes are very important to me. I needed sharper vision.
- Jan. 21, 2024
I was very comfortable with my visit and the staff and eye doctor had a smile on their face from the... time I walked in until I left, they are very professional and make their clients feel at home, thank you ABBA Care for my wonderful experience with you.
- Dec. 26, 2023
Good experience overall. Good service and feel well taken care of.
- Dec. 05, 2023
From our eye exam appointments to picking up our glasses, the experience at Abba Eye Care in Alamosa... has been exemplary. But the most telling testimony to their capable hands is when I put on my new glasses and forgot they were even there! My husband had to ask me if I was wearing my new glasses before I realized several hours had passed since putting them on. I will be back.
- Nov. 23, 2023
Amazing and helpful staff! Overall wonderful experience and I LOVE my new glasses!!
- Nov. 05, 2023
Everyone there was helpful & courteous. I did not feel rushed making my choice. Great service & ver... y clean.🎇
- Oct. 31, 2023
Everyone explained what they were doing beforehand
- Sep. 26, 2023
All was good and thanks for being there for veterans.
- Sep. 25, 2023
Friendly staff, Dr. Sicco explains things so well. I truly enjoy going to the eye doctor here.
- Aug. 24, 2023
Everyone was very nice and professional.
- Aug. 21, 2023
Excellent care! Very friendly staff and provider! Thank you
- Aug. 19, 2023
Professional from the get go, very knowledgeable
- Aug. 19, 2023
The entire staff at ABBA is extremely pleasant, caring, kind and professional. Thank you!

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Alamosa

Our optometry practice in Alamosa

Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
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  • Medicaid
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

719-589-2020