Preserve Your Vision With International Eyecare Center - Kirksville

Diabetic Retinopathy in Kirksville

Preserve Your Vision With International Eyecare Center - Kirksville

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 International Eyecare Center - Kirksville 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, International Eyecare Center - Kirksville in Kirksville 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 Kirksville

Our optometry practice in Kirksville

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Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Medicare
  • VSP
  • United Healthcare
  • Spectera
  • Anthem
  • Metlife
  • Medicaid

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
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353 Reviews
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- Nov. 30, 2023
Staff was polite, helpful and thorough. I felt like I recieved a thorough exam and they cared about... the health of my eye and quality of my glasses.
- Nov. 13, 2023
Very great service.
- Oct. 21, 2023
I had a rash under my left eye and called on a Friday morning and got right in to see Dr. Page about... it.
- Aug. 12, 2023
They were great. I really can't wait to get my glasses. Unfortunately out of their control the flood... ing has prevented me from being able to pick them up yet. Hopefully this week.
- Aug. 08, 2023
Friendly and fast, giving me the right that I want directly! 😁
- Jul. 22, 2023
Great experience!! Very friendly and knowledgeable! Not the ideal experience for everyone, but the... y make this a painless experience and easy to navigate.
- Jul. 20, 2023
The staff are very professional, polite, personable, and extremely wonderful!
- Jul. 09, 2023
Detailed and thorough exam, with very friendly and professional staff. I received my glasses within... a week. I would gladly recommend IEC to my family and friends.
- Jun. 17, 2023
It's always a pleasure to go there the staff is remarkable
- Jun. 12, 2023
Nice service and got our glasses back super quick!
- Jun. 03, 2023
My elderly parents have never had such wonderful care. We’ll continue to receive care with you.
- Jun. 03, 2023
They were extremely helpful accommodating my elderly parents with their order.. We will be using th... em moving forward.
- Mar. 04, 2023
I've been going to IEC since 2000. Always great service, eyeglass lens prescriptions always accurat... e. Only issue is as an adult with small head, need kids size eyeglasses, and rarely a good selection to fit me to choose from. Eyeglass techs are not well trained to help choose eye glass frames to fit your features, not honest how glasses look on me. Comments on them rarely positive, but learned to accept how I look out of necessity.
- Feb. 08, 2023
Great treatment.
- Feb. 03, 2023
Everyone was helpfully and friendly!
- Jan. 09, 2023
Great service great Dr’s and staff!
- Jan. 08, 2023
The staff is always helpful and friendly
- Dec. 09, 2022
Dr. Page is the kind of doctor that listens and gives a thorough explanation of your exam. He is kin... d and has a good, friendly staff. I highly recommend him.
- Nov. 01, 2022
Excellent physicians & staff.
- Oct. 27, 2022
Great staff & knowledgable doctors!

View All 353 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 International Eyecare Center - Kirksville in Kirksville 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