Preserve Your Vision With ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa

Diabetic Retinopathy in Alamosa

Preserve Your Vision With ABBA Eye Care - Alamosa

Schedule Eye Exam

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


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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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Alamosa

Our optometry practice in Alamosa

Photograph of Maria  Sicco
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
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Humana
  • Davis Vision
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Colorado Access

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.
Patient Reviews
4.6
224 Reviews
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- 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!
- Aug. 12, 2023
Dr Sicco very well educated on her profession, kind, helps to find solutions to problems
- Aug. 03, 2023
Amazing service and people who work with you!😊
- Jul. 30, 2023
It was simple quick and easy. I was only oe there so there were no issues. Staff was very knowledgea... ble and friendly,, I've used them for a few years now and never had an issue.
- Jun. 12, 2023
Friendly staff, no ridiculous waiting, glasses came in earlier than expected.
- Jun. 08, 2023
Super nice staff, great experience and they take VA insurance!
- Apr. 17, 2023
Quick and easy eye exams. Friendly staff. Bright clean office.
- Mar. 23, 2023
Short wait time for appt. Treated me respectfully. Appt was quick and not a long time sitting in off... ice.
- Feb. 17, 2023
I stopped in just to get my designer glasses adjusted and I was treated with courtesy and Kendra did... a great job of adjusting my sunglasses and cleaning them off for me. I appreciate the friendliness and professional atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone.
- Feb. 02, 2023
Great staff! Make you feel at ease. Respectful!
- Jan. 29, 2023
Did.a very careful examination Looked at a small cyst and sent to a specialist right away Cancer fou... nd early and taken care of with ease. Thank you

View All 224 Reviews

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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam