Diabetic retinopathy it is the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans.
The damage to the retina in diabetic retinopathy is caused by elevated blood sugar which damages the retinas blood vessels overtime.
The most important time to have the diabetic changes in your eye evaluated is BEFORE you notice any change in your vison. It is extremely important you have your eyes evaluated EVERY YEAR if you have diabetes’s because early intervention will ensure you maintain good vision.
We share the progress of our evaluations and treatments with your primary care doctors and endocrinologists instantly from our electronic medical records.
The treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends on how far advanced the disease has become. It is best delivered by retinal specialists like Dr. Gloth in our office.
There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy:
1. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy should be treated once significant, before you experience symptoms, to best maintain your vision. Treatments include the use of in-office laser or painless anti-vegf injections.
2. Diabetic retinopathy may progress to a more severe form called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. More aggressive treatments may be needed to prevent you from losing your vision. Sometimes this may even require a surgery called a vitrectomy.
Dr. Gloth is a gifted retinal specialist who is fellowship-trained in retinal disease. He has vast expertise in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy for over 15 years.