Preserve Your Vision With Zysik EyeCare

Diabetic Retinopathy in Perrysburg

Preserve Your Vision With Zysik EyeCare

(419) 872-4477

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 Zysik EyeCare 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 bulgesโ€“or microaneurysmsโ€“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, Zysik EyeCare in Perrysburg 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 Zysik EyeCare in Perrysburg 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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357 Reviews
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- Nov. 01, 2024
My son is young and the were wonderful with him! Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚
- Oct. 06, 2024
Doctor answered all my questions in a way I could understand.
- Sep. 30, 2024
Beautiful people
- Sep. 29, 2024
Great exam
- Sep. 28, 2024
Fast, friendly, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable.
- Sep. 08, 2024
In addition to taking time in each appointment for questions, scheduling appointments is easy. Unli... ke most medical practices, you can get an appointment within a week.
- Aug. 31, 2024
Like the way I was treated, very relaxing experience
- Aug. 22, 2024
Staff was very friendly, doctor explained what he was doing and why it mattered, overall great exper... ience!
- Aug. 07, 2024
Knowledgeable and friendly. Have every confidence I received the best care for my vision needs.
- Jun. 30, 2024
Friendly staff. I like Dr.Lovas.
- May. 21, 2024
Very professional service, personal attention and a clear desire to understand the vision needs of e... ach patient.
- May. 13, 2024
Wonderful experience selecting frames and working with the gallery staff. Terri is amazing!
- May. 08, 2024
Both doctors are great! The opticians are so helpful when finding glasses. I enjoy this office and r... ecommend.
- Apr. 23, 2024
Everyone at the office was helpful, caring, inviting, and knowledgeable. Dr. Julie Zysik put my chil... d at ease who needed glasses for the first time. She was very thorough in her exam and explanations.
- Apr. 19, 2024
The whole staff was fantastic!!
- Mar. 16, 2024
Dr Lovas was very knowledgeable and informative when it came to treatment for our son. We brought hi... m in because we thought he had scratched his cornea or eyeball and we found out he just has allergic conjunctivitis which was very re assuring to hear as a parent that your child has nothing serious going on. He gave us eye drops to help our son. I will definitely be bringing our child back when itโ€™s time for his first eye exam!
- Feb. 28, 2024
Great customer service! Friendly staff and physician!
- Feb. 22, 2024
Great Staff, very friendly and all very helpful! They got me in very quickly and I had my new glasse... s in about two weeks. Also love they have later office hours a few days a week highly recommend
- Jan. 14, 2024
The staff was amazing. They were so friendly and knowledgeable. Service was top notch!
- Dec. 14, 2023
Professional Caring and pleasant Dr's and staff..highly recommend this Eyecare Office

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Perrysburg

Our optometry practice in Perrysburg

Photograph of Julie  Zysik
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  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(419) 872-4477