Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetes, then you’re at risk of developing this ocular disease. This particular disease causes progressive damage to the retina’s blood vessels. There are varying stages of diabetic retinopathy based on the amount of damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Non-proliferative retinopathy consists of mild, moderate and severe stages.

Proliferative retinopathy is the most advanced stage and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated in a timely manner. Although diabetic retinopathy does affect just one eye on occasion, it typically involves both eyes.

​​​​​​​Start by improving your overall health. Eat balanced meals, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels down, and take medications as prescribed by your doctor to manage your blood sugar. In addition, regular exercise, losing weight, and giving up smoking all make a huge difference. From there, a qualified eye doctor can provide you with treatment options to reduce the risk of losing your vision.