At Florida Eye Specialists, we provide advanced retinal care and personalized retina treatment plans to address a wide range of conditions affecting the back of the eye. Our fellowship-trained retina specialists use the latest technology to diagnose and treat retinal diseases, helping patients protect their vision and long-term eye health.
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Options
There are several treatments available to manage the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy. Finding the right treatment largely depends on the type of diabetic retinopathy you have and how severe it is. Mild cases can be treated with careful diabetes management and blood sugar moderation. More severe cases may require laser treatment to seal abnormal blood vessels or prevent new leaky blood vessels from forming. Eye injections may be needed to reduce inflammation. Diabetes can also accelerate cataract growth, so cataract surgery may be necessary. Our retina specialists will perform a thorough eye exam and recommend a personalized retina treatment plan.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can cause vision problems. Excessive sugar in your blood, also known as blood glucose, can damage the blood vessels of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the inside of the back of your eye. High glucose can even damage your macula, the region of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision.
Damaged blood vessels can swell and leak, or they can close completely to prevent blood from passing through. Sometimes, abnormal blood vessels can form, leading to diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy has two main stages:
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the first phase of the disease; the tiny blood vessels in your retina leak, causing your retina to swell.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the more advanced stage, characterized by the formation of new blood vessels in the retina.
Symptoms may not appear in the early stages, or mild symptoms may develop. The disease can eventually cause blindness.
- Floaters — spots or dark strings floating across your field of vision
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Impaired color vision
- Empty or dark areas in your field of vision
- Vision loss
- Extended duration of diabetes — the longer you have diabetes, the greater the damage to your retina
- Poor blood sugar control
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Pregnancy
- Tobacco use
Macular Degeneration Treatment Options
There is currently no cure for macular degeneration. However, our specialized retinal care focuses on slowing its progression and preserving your vision. Effective retinal treatment options may include ocular injections to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels or prescription medications. Diet changes and a combination of vitamins and minerals have also been shown to help slow the progression of vision loss in some patients. Treatment works better if started before the disease has progressed very far, which is why regular eye exams are essential. Our retina specialists will determine the best treatment option based on the severity of your macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a degenerative retinal disease that causes a progressive loss of vision. It is most often age-related, and people over the age of 60 are typically the most vulnerable to the disease.
The condition is named for the macula, a small region in the very center of the retina. The macula is important for photoreceptors in the eye to perceive different grades of light and certain details, which is why extensive degeneration in the area can ultimately lead to permanent blindness.
There are two main types: dry and wet.
- Dry macular degeneration is the most common and less severe of the two. It usually progresses gradually, but it does put patients at risk for developing wet macular degeneration.
- Wet macular degeneration occurs when blood or fluid leaks into the macula, often causing much more rapid and severe damage.
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Blind spots
- Reduced central vision
- Difficulty adapting to low light levels
- Vision loss
Because the macula is located at the center of the retina, people who develop macular degeneration often first notice that their vision is blurred or distorted in the center. You may also notice that straight lines no longer appear completely straight.
- 55 years of age and older
- Genetics
- Tobacco use
Most cases of macular degeneration are associated with aging, and seniors are much more likely to develop the disease. However, a genetic condition can lead to a form of macular degeneration in younger patients.
The Latest Technology for Retinal Disease
Florida Eye Specialists offers the latest technology for diagnosing and treating retinal disease. Request an appointment today.