Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide and it occurs in people with diabetes.
Diabetes can affect vision in a condition called diabetic retinopathy which usually affects both eyes. Approximately 1 out of 3 people with diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy. An excess of glucose can cause damage to the very small blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, known as the retina. This can lead to all sorts of changes in the eyes varying from unnoticeable symptoms to blindness. There are different stages of this disease and the earliest one is the most common and causes the least damage to your vision.
If you have diabetes, it is highly recommended that you get a yearly eye exam that includes pupil dilation, even if you don't have any complaints or concerns with your vision. It's important to note that pregnancy can cause diabetic retinopathy to worsen so if you're pregnant, your doctor may recommend more frequent eye exams.
If you have diabetes and you experience blurriness or sudden vision changes, please contact us right away to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. Keep in mind that diabetes does not necessarily cause vision loss. Proper health management can prevent complications so don't hesitate to reach out to your eye doctor for guidance.
In the early stages of this condition, it's very possible not to have any symptoms. As diabetic retinopathy progresses, possible symptoms could include:
If you notice these symptoms or experience changes in your vision and find it difficult for you to perform your daily activities, please schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our eye doctor in Bellflower.
Anyone with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can get diabetic retinopathy, however there are certain factors which increase the risk of developing this disease. The longer a person has diabetes, the more at risk they become for diabetic retinopathy. Also, the less a person's blood sugar is under control, the higher the chance is that their diabetes will affect their eyes through diabetic retinopathy.
Other risk factors include:
Diabetic retinopathy is not always preventable, but there are certain proactive measures that could be taken to lower your chance of developing this condition. It's advisable to take your prescribed medication for diabetes and to do what you can to maintain good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure. In addition, regular eye exams and early detection of changes due to this condition can really help prevent serious loss of vision.
Try to be aware of any changes in your vision and please contact us right away if you notice any sudden differences such as spotty or blurry vision.
It is strongly recommended to quit smoking in order to prevent damage to your vision due to diabetic retinopathy. Your eye doctor can guide you with different available methods to help you stop smoking.
There are different stages of diabetic retinopathy and the treatment depends on the level that this disease has affected the retina. The purpose of any treatment is to slow down or stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy. There are two main categories of this condition. There's the early phase called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDPR) which is less severe and most people do not require treatment at this point because there usually aren't any vision changes. It’s extremely important to consult your eye doctor to find out if treatment can help you and also in order to be monitored for any progression of the disease.
In the NDPR phase the blood vessels in the retina are weak and there could be miniscule disturbances in the blood referred to medically as microaneurysms which can lead to swelling of the macula. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for central vision so this swelling, known as diabetic macular edema, can cause disturbances in the central vision. There is a laser procedure available to treat diabetic macular edema called laser photocoagulation.
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that occurs in people with diabetes. If you are diabetic, it’s essential to be monitored by an eye doctor who can guide you with the proper precautions or next steps to take to preserve your vision. You can schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor by calling (562) 925-6591. Patients who need advanced medical eye care for diabetic retinopathy visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.
I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.
Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.
My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!
The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.
I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.
This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.
Very professional staff and pleasant.
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