TREATING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY & OTHER EYE DISEASES IN RALEIGH, NC

Raleigh Eye Center is one of the most experienced eye care centers in the Triangle. Our ophthalmologists efficiently treat a wide array of eye diseases, including those caused by diabetes.

Individuals with diabetes are at an increased risk for developing a variety of eye diseases such as diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy, due to unstable high blood sugars that can damage the blood vessels in the eye. Routine eye exams are essential to maintaining healthy vision, catching diabetic eye problems early and avoiding significant vision loss. Our eye care center offers speciality care for a variety of diabetic eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, in Raleigh, NC.

WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by diabetes and is classified by two types: nonproliferative or proliferative.

Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), is considered to be early stage diabetic retinopathy. There are typically no visual symptoms, but small blood vessels may begin to leak blood or fluid in this stage, causing swelling in the retina and deposits called exudates to form. If the macula becomes involved in the swelling caused by NPDR, quality of vision is decreased.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), is considered to be the advanced stage of this disease, characterized by abnormal blood vessels growing in the retina. These blood vessels are prone to leakage, breakage and scar tissue, which can lead to a retinal detachment. Decreased blood flow (ischemia) of the retina is another symptom of PDR.

DIAGNOSING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Our eye doctors recommend exams at least once per year in order to diagnosis diabetic retinopathy in Raleigh. The eye exams may include dilation, which provides your ophthalmologist with valuable information about the health of your retina.

If diabetic retinopathy is discovered during an eye exam, the treatment prescribed by your eye care provider will vary depending on the stage of diabetic retinopathy. For those with NPDR, no treatment may be necessary, and your eye doctor will monitor your eyes for change.

If you have PDR, rapid surgical treatment is necessary to prevent permanent vision loss. Your ophthalmologist will refer you to a retinal specialist for PDR treatment. There are several procedures that may be performed to protect the health of your eye, including laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy and vitrectomy.

RALEIGH-DURHAM DIABETIC EYE EVALUATION

Surgical treatment of diabetic retinopathy is not a cure for the condition, which is why it is essential that people with diabetes manage their condition throughout their lifetime. Keeping blood sugars at a stable level through diet and medication and scheduling regular eye exams is key in the prevention of permanent vision loss due to diabetes.

The experienced team of eye care professionals at Raleigh Eye Center have the tools necessary to monitor for and treat your eyes for diabetic eye disease. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a medical eye exam, please contact us today.

Our ophthalmology center offers exceptional diabetic eye care in Raleigh, NC, as well as Durham, Apex, Cary, Wake Forest, Chapel Hill, Fuquay-Varina and Garner, NC.