Preserve Your Vision With Clear View Vision Care

Diabetic Retinopathy in Tucson

Preserve Your Vision With Clear View Vision Care

(520) 327-9411

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 Clear View Vision Care 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, Clear View Vision Care in Tucson 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 Clear View Vision Care in Tucson 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
4.9
401 Reviews
5
4
3
2
1
- Nov. 04, 2024
Extremely helpful and pleasant office. Dr. Jones is exceptionally good at being sure that everythin... g is correct.
- Oct. 25, 2024
Staff and Dr Martin are always friendly and on time.
- Oct. 11, 2024
Amazing staff from the moment we walked in tot he moment we left. They all did fantastic with commun... ication to my 4 year old and myself. Such a great experience for her!
- Oct. 03, 2024
Excellent customer service! Laura was extremely helpful!
- Sep. 26, 2024
Dr. Jones was very thorough in her exam and the staff was helpful and friendly. Great experience!
- Sep. 24, 2024
This is a great little ophthalmologist office with great care. I would recommended to first timers t... o check it out. The staff and ophthalmologist are very willing to work with you and meet you at your level.
- Aug. 07, 2024
Very happy with the service and explanations. I think Dr. Anna is very capable and caring.
- Jul. 24, 2024
My first time here was easy and stress-free. The staff was so kind and helpful, especially when it c... ame to my first time putting in contacts. Dr. Jones was amazing, positive and super friendly. I will definitely recommend them to anyone else. 🙂
- Jul. 18, 2024
I have followed my eye doctor to this location to continue regular monitoring. The staff are kind an... d professional, appear to work well as a team.. The testing was comfortable and went smoothly. I would recommend Dr Anna Jones for anyone who is seeking a kind and caring experience.
- Jul. 16, 2024
Great customer care.
- Jul. 10, 2024
All their equipment is state of the art and the staff is pleasant. Both Dr. Jeffrey Martin and Dr. A... nna Jones were very pleasant and explained everything and answered any questions.
- Jul. 09, 2024
10/10 Experience with Clear View Vision Care! 100% would recommend this place.
- Jul. 02, 2024
Very thorough examination. The Staff really put me ease. Great customer service from Guillermo.
- Jun. 20, 2024
Outstanding service and care by staff and Dr. Jones. Self-pay exam fee was reasonable. So glad to ha... ve them on my wellness team! Many thanks!
- Jun. 12, 2024
I am very grateful to Dr. Anna Jones for her careful and knowledge-based adaptation of my prescripti... on to one that suits my comfort level. She gave me a very patient and thorough eye exam and listened to all my needs. I just picked up my new prescription and it is perfect!
- Jun. 01, 2024
My experience was great! The staff and Dr were knowledgeable, friendly,. I was seen early and the en... tire process went smoothly.
- May. 14, 2024
Thorough exams, clear explanations, everyone is professional and friendly.
- May. 05, 2024
1. Very thorough exam. It was sorta fun going from station to station as different aspects of my eye... s were assessed, measured, photographed, etc. While the exam was more thorough and high-tech than other places I've been, the atmosphere was still easygoing and comfortable. 2. Dr. Jones was friendly, funny, and gave helpful explanations as she moved through her exam. She shared helpful options for me to consider, without pressuring me into prescriptions or products that I didn't need. 3. A staff member immediately printed out my prescriptions for me after my exam (I didn't even have to ask). 4. All staff were friendly and professional. I was able to browse their eyewear collection without feeling pressured to purchase anything at that time. Overall: Excellent experience.
- Apr. 26, 2024
Very thorough eye exam with the latest technology
- Apr. 26, 2024
I have been a customer at Clear View Vision for many years. I highly recommend Dr. Martin and his s... taff.

View All 401 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Tucson

Our optometry practice in Tucson

Photograph of Jeffrey Martin
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • Tricare
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(520) 327-9411