Preserve Your Vision With Harper's Point Eye Associates - Montgomery

Diabetic Retinopathy in Cincinnati

Preserve Your Vision With Harper's Point Eye Associates - Montgomery

(513) 530-0440

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


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 Harper's Point Eye Associates - Montgomery 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, Harper's Point Eye Associates - Montgomery in Cincinnati 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.


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.

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 Harper's Point Eye Associates - Montgomery in Cincinnati 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.

Patient Reviews
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351 Reviews
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- Oct. 21, 2024
Best eyewear place in Cincinnati.. location is awesome the staff and Doctors are very nice and helpf... ul..Very Nice selection of frames as well .Very Nice office.
- Oct. 08, 2024
Excellent Dr., staff and service. I highly recommend.
- Sep. 30, 2024
Professional, people that seem to be happy work there.
- Sep. 09, 2024
Very good experience at Harper's Point Eye! Doc and staff are over the top amazing.
- Sep. 07, 2024
Best eye doctor Dr ,Todd.Zelczak thank you so much for your best help for my 7 year old son’s eye!... I recommended.Also our insurance accepted too!
- Aug. 15, 2024
10/10 recommend all doctors at this practice. we have moved since becoming patients and still drive ... almost an hour to appointments. Thank you!
- Aug. 10, 2024
I'll stay
- Aug. 07, 2024
They told me to checking 15 minutes before my appointment I get out of the car a white lady tel... ls me were not open yet two white people go right in so I won't be going there anymore!
- Jul. 31, 2024
Great staff!
- Jul. 12, 2024
had a great experience with doctor ziegler and her intern (didn’t catch her name) but definitely a... mazing people. you can tell they really care about the patients and were extremely knowledgeable. also, time effective! impressed and will be back annually 😊 thank you!
- Jul. 01, 2024
Staff serve with smiling faces and good vibes.
- Jun. 30, 2024
Friendly, competent, and efficient experience.
- Jun. 24, 2024
The Staff at Harpers Point Eye Associates are top notch. They are very helpful, knowledgeable and k... ind. My rating of Dr. Zelczek is excellent because he is very knowledgeable and very patient oriented. He explains your eye health and answers all questions that I had. I felt my care was exceptional.
- Jun. 18, 2024
All associates are nice and helpful.
- Jun. 13, 2024
Extremely competent professional and friendly staff. I see Dr Kirstein and he’s amazing! Will ne... ver go to anyone else as long as he’s in practice. They also have a large wonderful display of frames to choose from.
- Jun. 11, 2024
I would like to say this was the first time that I had an eye exam at Harpers point eye associates a... nd I have to say that the front desk was excellent Ruth and the young lady Tessa who did my eye exam was wonderful. Tessa and Tiffany helped me pick out a wonderful pair of glasses that I love. Dr zelchak was wonderful did a thorough exam. All of the personnel people that I met was great. I would highly recommend.
- Jun. 10, 2024
Front desk ladies are the sweetest ! The doctors and other staff were absolutely amazing with my 5 y... ear old son . Would definitely recommend coming here !
- Jun. 06, 2024
Super nice staff . Quick and fast . Brought my 5 year old son here and they were amazing with him! N... ice and clean facility. Very spacious
- Jun. 01, 2024
The doctors are thorough and efficient. I have received excellent and comprehensive care from them. ... I highly recommend them.
- May. 01, 2024
I had a great experience here. Dr. Ziegler referred me to this location as a follow up from another... location due to having specialized equipment. She met me here, did her boss thing, and I'm good to go. She also helped me upgrade my new glasses so they work better for my lifestyle. I told her I had some problems and all of them been resolved. She is highly competent and she cares about a lasting, positive outcome.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Cincinnati

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(513) 530-0440