Preserve Your Vision With Elgin Family EyeCare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Elgin

Preserve Your Vision With Elgin Family EyeCare

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 Elgin Family 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, Elgin Family EyeCare in Elgin 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 Elgin

Our optometry practice in Elgin

Photograph of Toshio Nakajima
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • MetLife
  • Blue Cross

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
230 Reviews
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- Sep. 28, 2023
It's a nice place with kind, knowledgeable and professional staff
- Sep. 25, 2023
Great
- Sep. 06, 2023
Dr Kennedy was friendly, professional and honest.
- Aug. 16, 2023
Great Doctors and friendly staff.
- Jun. 11, 2023
Dr. Kennedy is very thorough and takes pride in the care he gives you. As long as I live in this are... a, Dr . Kennedy will always be my eye doctor.
- May. 10, 2023
I needed a last minute appointment and found that this office was available on a Saturday on zoc doc... . Great service and nice staff.
- May. 01, 2023
I have been a patient of Elgin Family Eye Care for more than 20 years. The doctors consistently pro... vide very thorough examinations of my eyes. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable.
- Apr. 22, 2023
I love this place, it’s big and pretty in the inside and the staff is great!
- Mar. 30, 2023
I recently had an urgent situation and needed to see Dr. Kennedy. The staff and Dr. Kennedy were pro... fessional, knowledgeable, accommodating, and thorough throughout my appointment. Being a long-time patient for over 25 years, and seeing him annually, I completely trust Dr. Kennedy with my eye health and appreciate the wonderful staff. Eyewear selection is always current and plentiful, adjustments and fit are excellent, and I know I can come in for additional adjustments as needed, and I have. I enthusiastically recommend Elgin Family EyeCare and Dr. Kennedy!
- Mar. 28, 2023
Great experience. Wonderful staff and Dr. Kennedy listens and provides wonderful eyecare.
- Mar. 13, 2023
Very professional, friendly, and prompt service!
- Feb. 22, 2023
First time here, and the staff was really nice. Dr Tahir is soo caring and sweet.
- Feb. 19, 2023
Great eye care from Dr. Kennedy.
- Feb. 08, 2023
I've been going here for years and I always have a great experience. It look me a long time to find ... the right eye doctor and Dr. Brauer is great and has helped me a lot! Highly recommend!
- Jan. 05, 2023
Dr. Andrew Brauer creates a welcoming environment and listens to the concerns of his patients so he ... can understand how to help them achieve the best outcomes for their vision. So very appreciative and highly recommend.
- Nov. 26, 2022
Dr.Nakajima is amazing!!! We have been seeing him for over 20 years. He sincerely cares about his pa... tients. He is very knowledgeable. The entire front end staffs are well trained and friendly.
- Nov. 25, 2022
Great experience
- Nov. 12, 2022
Great staff especially Brenda!
- Nov. 11, 2022
Great service and Doctors.
- Oct. 25, 2022
Very thorough exam and professional staff. Very clean facility. Advanced eye exam equipment. Way be... tter than a franchise eye exam provider.

View All 230 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 Elgin Family EyeCare in Elgin 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