Preserve Your Vision With Eye Country

Diabetic Retinopathy in Fredericksburg

Preserve Your Vision With Eye Country

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 Eye Country 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, Eye Country in Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg

Our optometry practice in Fredericksburg

Photograph of Hans Oosterbaan
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • 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
4.8
154 Reviews
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- Sep. 22, 2023
They have gotten us in on two different ,last minute emergency visits and were great! Also, regular ... visits for the family. Highly recommend
- Sep. 21, 2023
Great experience and friendly staff. All go out of their way to make the eye exam and eye glass purc... hase a happy experience.
- Aug. 30, 2023
friendly and competent
- Aug. 18, 2023
Nothing beats great service and customer service and welcoming facility.
- May. 21, 2023
I loved it and professional and friendly service.
- Apr. 17, 2023
The best in the area!
- Apr. 09, 2023
Wonderful doctor, super-competent and friendly staff! I’m so thankful to Dr. Oosterbaan and all of... the staff at Eye Country for helping me keep my vision healthy! Thank you!
- Jan. 30, 2023
My wife and I enjoyed a very positive experience during our eye exams during our appointments at Eye... Country. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting Dr. O's Team.
- Jan. 13, 2023
Friendly atmosphere.
- Jan. 10, 2023
Gotten exams here for glasses and contacts for the past couple years. Everyone's always super nice a... nd helpful, very fairly priced. I'm private pay so I like to shop around before committing to an appointment and eye country is the cheapest in town I believe. Will be back for my exam this year.
- Dec. 06, 2022
Very friendly staff and professional service.
- Nov. 11, 2022
Highly recommend Eye Country!!!
- Nov. 08, 2022
Dr. Oosterbaan is a perfect model for what a doctor should be. He is thorough, explains everything ... completely, and relates to his patients like a team captain. I have been his patient for 30 plus years and will continue on in his exemplary care.
- Nov. 08, 2022
Thorough eye exam, friendly staff, wait time was short. The office was clean and comfortable. Dr was... cute 😉
- Oct. 23, 2022
Friendly and professional staff in a very clean and comfortable environment. Dr. Oosterbaan provide... s both a thorough eye exam and healthy eyecare consultation.
- Sep. 20, 2022
Best Optometrist and staff in the state!
- Aug. 11, 2022
Very good experience
- Aug. 10, 2022
Great office and staff.
- Apr. 01, 2022
Excellent place. Loved the eye doctor and all the staff.
- Jan. 20, 2022
Everyone was very friendly and yet professional.

View All 154 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 Eye Country in Fredericksburg 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