Preserve Your Vision With Eyecare of Palatine

Diabetic Retinopathy in Palatine

Preserve Your Vision With Eyecare of Palatine

(844) 941-3937

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 Eyecare of Palatine 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, Eyecare of Palatine in Palatine 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 Eyecare of Palatine in Palatine 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
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- Dec. 01, 2024
Best eyecare services esp in Ortho-K nightwear lense technology, which completely eliminates wearing... glasses during the day by wearing vision correction lenses during sleep time only. My son still using it over almost 14 years and absolutely benefitted from using it and that too without any eye issues or complications during this time. Thanks Dr. Robert Gerowitz for helping and providing top class services for so long in the Chicago region as well as all over the world with dedication, knowledgeand experience! Very grateful! Keep going and best wishes always! Thank you!!!
- Nov. 28, 2024
Always a great experience. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Wouldn’t go anywhere else for my ... eye care
- Oct. 27, 2024
Very caring staff and Dr. Kubicki is patient and thorough with your eye exam.
- Oct. 15, 2024
Great experience on my first visit. Friendly staff. Seen on time. Dr was very nice and very knowledg... eable !
- Sep. 08, 2024
(Translated by Google) Friendly staff, professional Dr. Robert Gerowitz. (Original) Привітн�... �й персонал, професійний доктор Dr. Robert Gerowitz.
- Jun. 28, 2024
I am so grateful to of found this eye doctors office! Every single person that I came in contact wit... h was patient and caring. I have anxiety about going to medical appointments, and they were so caring and understanding. Thank you Dr. Kubicki!
- Jun. 28, 2024
I’ve been their customer for four years. Highly professional staff and experienced doctor. Recomme... nded!
- Feb. 10, 2024
Dr. Kubicki is the best! He is very knowledgeable, explains the test he does slowly to make sure you... understand what is being doing, he takes his time, and I feel very confident with my eye health when I’m with Dr. Kubicki.
- Dec. 11, 2023
Helping continue to see clearly
- Nov. 16, 2023
Amazing experience all around with Dr and staff!! Highly recommended!!!
- Nov. 06, 2023
Very convenient location. Been a patient of Dr. Gerowitz for close to 40 years!
- Aug. 21, 2023
My daughter's first ever eye exam went extremely well because of the patient and friendly staff at t... his location. They took their time and helped her through the eye tests and she really loved the experience. Thank you for being so kind and caring cannot wait to return next year.
- Jun. 12, 2023
Highly recommend!
- May. 03, 2023
Great doctor, very professional and kind staff!
- Apr. 12, 2023
I have done Ortho-K for less than 4 months and my eyesight has been way better than ever!
- Feb. 13, 2023
The staff there is soo friendly, very helpful and courteous. They have the nicest frames for eyeglas... ses. I live in the City and always drive up to them every year for eye exam, personal eye wear and I even get my prescription safety glasses there. I highly recommend!
- Dec. 11, 2022
This is the doctor to go to if you need someone experienced. Gerowitz helped me with my dry eyes aft... er visiting him I no longer feel uncomfortability and irritation in my eye. He was very supportive and professional. Gerowitz saw the issue in my eye that other eye doctors could not spot. Incredibly greatfull for his service!
- Dec. 05, 2022
We got recommended to Dr. Robert Gerowitz due to some special format on my son's cornea. My son is a... n active athetic boy (snowboarding, ice hockey, biking, etc). My son has been using CRT lenses since he is 8 years old, but with the change in the cornea the CRT was not working. Dr. Gerowitz took his case with all attention and care. He was calm in dealing with a challenge situation. it took around 2-3 months of exams until Dr Gerowitz ordered the molds for my son. In a matter of weeks using the new molds my son got 20/20 vision. I am so pleased with Dr. Gerowitz. I strongly recommend him and his staff. Everyone is great! They understand urgency when there is one and work the best way to accommodate our needs. Thank Dr. Gerowitz for everything.
- Nov. 05, 2022
Dr.Kubicki and his staff are awesome. I love how easy and smooth it is to get an appointment and get... seen. Dr Kubicki really takes his time with his patients in getting them examined correctly and making it as most comfortable as possible for children!
- Jul. 15, 2022
My daughter is currently wearing ortho-k. Her eyes of progressively has gone better. During this fir... st week, she already has 20/20 vision which is very surprising. Before the procedure, she thought putting these lenses in your eyes would hurt and be really uncomfortable, but with the right technique it is super easy! Thank you Dr. Robert Gerowitz and the teams for what you do!

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Palatine

Our optometry practice in Palatine

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(844) 941-3937