Protecting Your Sight Against Permanent Vision Loss
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults and affects nearly ten million Americans annually. Thankfully, Levin Eyecare has the tools you need to prevent vision loss and properly manage your condition.
9.6M
Americans
Affected
Affected
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that is caused by unsafe blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes. High levels of blood sugar damage your retina, which is the part of the eye that sends visual signals to the brain. Diabetic retinopathy damages blood vessels around the retina, or may cause new, abnormal vessels to form. The damage done by this insidious condition is permanent.
How We Manage Diabetic Retinopathy
At Levin Eyecare, we use our collective experience and cutting-edge technology to find the best path forward, but we also communicate closely with the other medical teams overseeing your diabetes, which may include your primary care doctor, retina specialists, and possibly your endocrinologist. We share our exam results and ongoing treatment plans, so we have a full understanding of your medications, symptoms, and diagnostic results. This allows us to properly monitor your eyes and take every precaution to protect your vision.
DOCTORS
Dr. Gregory M Barbush
Optometrist
Dr. Karen A. Norman
Optometrist
Dr. Jaclyn Coyner
Optometrist
Dr. Gregory M Barbush
Optometrist
Dr. Karen A. Norman
Optometrist
Dr. Jaclyn Coyner
Optometrist
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does diabetic retinopathy lead to macular edema?
Yes. Diabetic retinopathy damages the retina when blood sugar levels are elevated, which causes swelling and inflammation at the back of the eye. The swelling affects the central part of the retina called the macula, which is responsible for the clearest, straight-ahead vision.
What are common diabetic eye problems?
Diabetic retinopathy isn’t your only concern with diabetes. Other conditions of concern include cataracts, glaucoma, and macular edema.
What makes a diabetic eye test different from a typical eye exam?
In many ways, they are similar. We run all the same sight and eye health tests, but a diabetic eye exam conducts extra tests to ensure that your condition has not progressed. These tests focus specifically on the retina and surrounding tissue.
Does diabetic retinopathy cause cloudy, foggy, or blurred vision?
Yes — as the condition progresses, diabetic retinopathy damages eye muscles and tissue that begins to harm your vision. Diabetic retinopathy patients may experience these symptoms and more, like dark areas, floaters, difficulty seeing colors, and vision loss.