Diabetic Retinopathy

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy causes vision loss or blindness in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes are also at risk of diabetic retinopathy.

The condition affects your retina’s blood vessels. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels, which can leak and cause vision problems.

In addition to poorly controlled diabetes, risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include a history of smoking, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), and high blood pressure (hypertension).

Wicker Park Eye Center provides comprehensive care for diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Tepper specializes in several diabetic retinopathy surgeries to repair or remove damaged blood vessels to preserve your vision. He also provides preventive resources to lower your risk for retinal damage in adults and children with diabetes.

How do I know I have diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy might not initially cause symptoms. But as the condition gets worse, you could notice floating strings or spots in your vision or blurry vision. These symptoms show up when blood leaks into the fluid in your eye or scar tissue forms on the back of your eye.

It can take years before you experience vision loss. For this reason, you should schedule a dilated eye exam at Wicker Park Eye Center once a year if you have diabetes.

Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, Dr. Tepper can check the health of your retina and identify early warning signs of diabetic retinopathy.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

Dr. Tepper determines which treatment you need based on the stage the diabetic retinopathy is in. Wicker Park Eye Care offers several procedures in-office, including:

Vitrectomy

Vitrectomy is a procedure to remove blood, vitreous tissue, and scar tissue from your eye through small incisions. Dr. Tepper replaces the tissue with a saline solution.

Laser photocoagulation

Laser photocoagulation uses laser energy to shrink or close abnormal blood vessels to stop leaks. The procedure takes less than 20 minutes.

If you’ve already suffered some vision loss, Dr. Tepper can prescribe low-vision products that make it easier to read, drive, and do other activities.

Call Wicker Park Eye Center today to schedule a diabetic retinopathy consultation or book an appointment online.