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

Diabetic Retinopathy in Cincinnati

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

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


Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Cincinnati

Our optometry practice in Cincinnati

Photograph of Elliot  Kirstein
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

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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281 Reviews
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- Mar. 23, 2024
Super friendly environment,experienced technicians, every one seems to be well versed of their jobs.... I would be amiss not to mention the Awesome chief! Thank you all.😊
- Feb. 23, 2024
Dr Zelchak and his team take the time to answer every question and in terse I can understand. Highly... recommend!!
- Feb. 14, 2024
I've been a patient of Dr Kirstein for 35+ years. He is kind, easy to talk to & is a caring, intere... sted doctor.
- Feb. 07, 2024
I will go nowhere else to have my eyes examined except for Harper's Point Eye Associates. They have ... a variety of fashionable frames to choose from and the staff is friendly and helpful!
- Jan. 30, 2024
Great place they take medicaid. They were patient caring and took the time to do proper patient care...
- Jan. 27, 2024
Good location, good selection, good service.
- Jan. 20, 2024
I have been coming here for over 30 years. Have always had positive experiences.
- Dec. 29, 2023
everyone at Harpers Eye care is friendly, professional and respectful. They take time to answer que... stions if necessary and easy to work with.
- Dec. 13, 2023
Dr. Zelczak has been my eye doctor for twenty years. He's the best. I'll continue to refer my friend... s and family.
- Dec. 05, 2023
Continue with the great excellent service delivery to your patients. Live your great smiles people..... .
- Dec. 02, 2023
Great service and friendly staff.
- Nov. 03, 2023
Great staff
- Sep. 26, 2023
Excellent service and great Doc
- Sep. 16, 2023
I have seen Dr.Zelczak for years. He and his staff have always treated me with kindness and respect
- Sep. 12, 2023
Good people
- Sep. 02, 2023
Dr. Kirstein is *the best*. He and his staff provide excellent eye care in a friendly and profession... al setting
- Aug. 16, 2023
Dr. Z and his team provide excellent, professional eye care!
- Aug. 15, 2023
Great environment and awesome staff. Been going here for 20+ years.
- Aug. 08, 2023
I was very pleased with the service that was provided. Great staff highly recommend
- Jun. 30, 2023
the desk staff is always friendly and helpful, I appreciate having the opinion of the student intern... s, and Dr. Kirstein is the best, I have been going to his practice for for over 20 years and I would highly recommend them.

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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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam