Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes. It can develop gradually and may not cause noticeable symptoms in its earlier stages, which is why regular eye health evaluations are recommended for people with diabetes.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Protect Your Sight With Diabetic Eye Care in Weslaco
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Diabetic retinopathy can develop and progress without causing obvious symptoms early on. By the time you notice a change in your vision, the condition may already have progressed. Regular eye evaluations allow your optometrist to monitor your retina before symptoms appear.
The right schedule depends on how long you have had diabetes, how well it is managed, and whether any changes have already been found. Your optometrist will recommend a monitoring schedule based on your individual findings and health history.
Our optometrist is trained in the detection and management of diabetic retinopathy. As a Therapeutic Optometrist, our optometrist can evaluate your retinal health and prescribe medications when appropriate. If your condition requires more specialized care, our optometrist can refer you to the right provider.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can affect the blood vessels in the retina. How quickly or severely the eyes are affected varies from person to person and depends on factors such as how long you have had diabetes and how well your blood sugar is managed.
If your evaluation identifies changes that require care beyond the scope of our office, our optometrist can refer you to an appropriate provider and help you understand what comes next.
Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes Before You Notice Symptoms
Diabetes Can Affect Your Eyes Before You Notice Symptoms
Diabetes can affect your eyes before you notice a change in your vision. Diabetic eye care at Weslaco Eye Professionals helps you monitor your eye health, understand any changes, and know when additional care may be needed.
High blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. When diabetes causes these changes, the condition is called diabetic retinopathy.
One of the challenges with diabetic retinopathy is that noticeable symptoms may not appear right away. Regular eye health evaluations give your optometrist an opportunity to monitor for changes even when your vision still seems normal.
Our optometrist is trained in the detection and management of diabetic retinopathy and has completed ocular disease training through the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System in Harlingen and McAllen.
Your Vision Can Feel Fine While Your Eyes Are Changing
Clear vision does not always mean diabetes hasn't affected your eyes. Changes in the retinal blood vessels can develop gradually, which is why diabetic eye care shouldn't depend only on whether you have symptoms.
Ongoing exams give your optometrist a point of comparison. This makes it easier to recognize changes in your eye health over time and determine whether closer monitoring or additional care is appropriate.
Vision Changes Worth Discussing With Your Eye Doctor
Diabetes-related eye changes can affect people differently. Contact your eye doctor if you notice:
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- New dark spots or floaters
- Areas of missing or distorted vision
- Increasing difficulty seeing clearly at night
- A noticeable or sudden change in vision
These symptoms can have several causes and do not confirm diabetic retinopathy on their own. An eye health evaluation is the appropriate way to determine what may be affecting your vision.
Your Diabetes History Helps Guide Your Eye Care
Your eye health does not exist separately from the rest of your health. How long you have had diabetes, how your condition is being managed, and other health concerns can all affect the type of monitoring you may need.
Let your optometrist know about changes in your diabetes, medications, blood pressure, or overall health. This information helps put your eye findings into context and supports care that reflects your individual situation.
Diabetic Eye Exams Are About Ongoing Monitoring
How often you should have your eyes evaluated depends on your health history, previous findings, and whether your optometrist is already monitoring an eye condition.
If changes are identified, our optometrist can explain what they mean and whether continued monitoring, treatment, or referral for more specialized care is appropriate.
Diabetic Retinopathy Care With Our Optometrist
Our optometrist is trained in ocular disease and diabetic retinopathy management. Their role is not simply to identify a change, but to help you understand what has been found and what should happen next.
If your condition requires treatment or testing beyond what Weslaco Eye Professionals provides, our optometrist can refer you to an appropriate eye care provider for additional care.
Stay Current With Your Diabetic Eye Health
If you have diabetes, regular eye care gives you a practical way to keep track of changes that may not be obvious in everyday life. You do not need to wait until your vision becomes blurry or uncomfortable to have your eye health evaluated.
Schedule a diabetic eye evaluation with Weslaco Eye Professionals or call (956) 593-9060 to arrange your appointment.