Call Us Today
(830) 249-8400
Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis and Monitoring for Boerne and San Antonio Residents
Dr. Carlos Diaz is proud to help diabetic retinopathy patients at Diaz Vision Center in Boerne, near San Antonio. Diabetic retinopathy is a degenerative eye disease that can affect people with diabetes. It can cause significant vision loss and even blindness if left untreated. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is currently the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the United States.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease in which elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream cause damage to small blood vessels in the eye. These vessels leak blood and fluid that damages the retina and causes vision loss. Elevated blood glucose levels are caused by diabetes, which is why diabetic retinopathy is almost always linked to that disease.
In the earliest stages of diabetic retinopathy, the disease is usually asymptomatic. As the disease progresses, patients gradually begin to experience minor visual impairment in the form of blurring and blind spots caused by swelling due to fluid buildup. Eventually the retina may detach as swelling worsens. Patients will ultimately experience profound vision loss or total blindness.
Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis
Diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed during regular eye exams. A visual acuity test using a standard letter chart is the first step, because patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy may have experienced some visual acuity loss that this test can detect. Pupil dilation is another important step: by dilating a patient's pupils with special eye drops, Dr. Diaz can examine the retina to check for signs of swelling and blood vessel damage that characterize diabetic retinopathy.
Ophthalmoscopy is also an important technique. Using special lenses, Dr. Diaz obtains a magnified view of the posterior segment of the eye, including the retina and blood vessels, to check for damage.
Diabetic Retinopathy Monitoring
Because diabetic retinopathy does not present obvious symptoms until it has progressed, it is very important for diabetic individuals to undergo regular testing for the disease. Diabetics who wait to be examined until after they experience obvious symptoms are more likely to suffer vision loss. At Diaz Vision Center in Boerne, near San Antonio, Dr. Carlos Diaz examines patients for diabetic retinopathy on a regular basis in order to identify the disease before it causes significant vision loss. When necessary, patients will be referred for appropriate treatment.
Learn More about Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition, and regular testing is the only reliable way for diabetic individuals to slow vision loss if they do become affected. To learn more about diabetic retinopathy, please contact Diaz Vision Center, located near San Antonio in Boerne.
If you are interested in scheduling a checkup or learning more about diabetic retinopathy, contact Diaz Vision Center in Boerne, near San Antonio.
Diaz Vision Center, PA
124 E Bandera Rd, #404
Boerne, TX 78006
Ph. 830-249-8400
Fx. 830-249-8411