Retinal Care for Diabetic Patients in Southern California
Diabetes can cause serious damage to your vision, often without warning. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes, affecting the delicate blood vessels in the retina.
At American Eye Associates, we specialize in the early detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease, helping patients preserve their sight through personalized care, laser surgery, and advanced medical therapies.
How Diabetes Affects Eyes
Diabetes affects the eyes by damaging the tiny blood vessels in the retina, a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar levels cause these vessels to weaken, swell, leak, or become blocked, depriving the retina of oxygen and nutrients.
Beyond diabetic retinopathy, diabetes also increases the risk of developing other serious eye conditions, including diabetic macular edema (DME), cataracts, and glaucoma.
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a major cause of vision impairment. It develops in stages, each requiring different levels of monitoring and treatment.
In the early stages, known as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), small blood vessels in the retina leak fluid or tiny amounts of blood, causing swelling. This stage may not cause noticeable symptoms, but it can lead to diabetic macular edema (DME), a condition that results in blurred or distorted central vision.
As the disease advances into proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), the retina grows abnormal blood vessels to compensate for poor circulation. These fragile vessels can rupture and bleed into the eye, causing sudden vision loss, retinal detachment, or glaucoma.
Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy
At American Eye Associates, we use state-of-the-art diagnostics to detect diabetic retinopathy at its earliest stages.
A comprehensive diabetic eye exam includes a dilated retinal evaluation, where our specialists examine your retina for bleeding, swelling, and abnormal blood vessel growth. We also use:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A high-resolution scan that provides detailed images of the retina’s layers
- Fluorescein Angiography (FA): A specialized test where an eye doctor injects dye into the bloodstream to highlight leaking or blocked blood vessels in the retina
Laser Surgery for Diabetic Retinopathy
For patients with moderate to severe diabetic retinopathy, laser surgery is one of the most effective treatments available. These advanced, minimally invasive procedures help seal leaking blood vessels, prevent abnormal vessel growth, and reduce swelling in the retina.
Other Treatment Options
While laser therapy is a powerful tool, some patients require additional treatments depending on the severity of their condition.
For patients with significant swelling in the macula, we offer anti-VEGF injections such as Eylea®, Ozurdex®, Vabysmo™, and Avastin®. These medications block the growth of abnormal blood vessels and reduce inflammation, helping stabilize and, in some cases, improve vision.
In advanced cases where bleeding or scarring has severely affected vision, vitrectomy surgery may be necessary. This procedure removes blood, scar tissue, and fluid from the eye, preventing further damage and improving visual clarity.