Preserve Your Vision With Family Eye Care Services

Diabetic Retinopathy in Pawtucket

Preserve Your Vision With Family Eye Care Services

(401) 723-9540

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 Family Eye Care Services 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, Family Eye Care Services in Pawtucket 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 Family Eye Care Services in Pawtucket 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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152 Reviews
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- Sep. 17, 2024
Great customer service and high quality glasses that will last a few years.
- Sep. 15, 2024
I’ve been coming here for over 30 years! Initially with Kenneth and now with his son, Jonathan. ... The doctor and eye-care professional staff are always top notch. Very friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about latest advancements in eye care. Most of the eye care professional staff have been there for 10+ years too.
- Sep. 06, 2024
Been going there since the '90s Dr Jonathan is great
- Aug. 23, 2024
The attentiveness and empathy had my mom feeling at ease. Took a normally stressful process and made... it simple. Thank you for your help.
- Aug. 09, 2024
A very nice and really clean place
- Aug. 06, 2024
Great office. Dr Scarpanito was amazing. Highly recommended
- Aug. 05, 2024
I get great service from everyone.
- Jul. 22, 2024
The employees at Dr. Kaplan's are professional, personable and have an extreme amount of knowledge a... bout their job!! I would recommend them to anyone!!
- Jul. 02, 2024
Been a patient at family eye care services for a really long time . I highly recommend it.
- Jul. 01, 2024
Excellent care by Dr. Kaplan. I have been coming to him for years and will continue there.
- Jun. 17, 2024
Having been a pt here for many years I know Dr Kaplan and his staff are very professional, knowledge... able and friendly. Today I saw this taken to another level, when I called for a vision concern. Andrew had me come in immediately for an exam despite the fact that it was 10:25am and they close at 12. I was greeted with a friendly disposition and had preliminary vision test done by an equally professional yet friendly face. Dr Scarpanito took an extraordinary amount of time with me and provided me with an extremely thorough exam. With an answer and treatment in hand I went to finish up my visit and pay my copay, where I was met with Andrew, who was very gracious and kind despite it now being well past closing time. Thank you all ! You are truly a testament to your profession!
- May. 12, 2024
Excelent workers very professional and friendly
- May. 11, 2024
Excellent choice for professional eye care.
- May. 04, 2024
Dr. Kaplan and staff provide excellent services and are always attentive to our needs.
- May. 04, 2024
We have been going to Family Eye Care for years. Dr. Kaplan is thorough, listens to our needs and is... a super nice guy. His staff is also friendly and efficient. I highly recommend this practice.
- May. 01, 2024
Great Doctor and great staff
- Apr. 06, 2024
(Translated by Google) It was very nice. I received very good attention from the staff...... Likewis... e, Dr. Kaplan is an excellent professional.... I have been a patient of your office for more than 25 years and you have met all my expectations. I also referred him to all my family members; Everyone comes to their office and is very satisfied with the services they provide. (Original) Fue muy agradable. Recibi muy buena atencion por parte del personal...... Igualmente del Dr. Kaplan él es un excelente profesional.... Llevo mas de 25 años como paciente de su consultorio y a llenado todas mis expectativas. Tambien lo referi a todos los miembros de mi familia; todos acuden a su oficina y estan muy conformes con los servicios que les proveen.
- Apr. 05, 2024
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- Mar. 22, 2024
Great service and customer care it's a big difference appreciate the time they took with me as a Wal... k in the service here has always been top tier strongly recommend the whole team to everyone.
- Mar. 20, 2024
been coming to family eye care services since i was a child and never had a problem, Dr. Kaplan is a... sweetheart, and for the person stating the the girl with the purple hair is rude, no she is not she very professional at what she does, you just didn't get your way and commenting like a child in grammar school.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Pawtucket

Our optometry practice in Pawtucket

Photograph of Jillian  Scarpanito
Hours
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  • Wednesday Closed
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(401) 723-9540