Preserve Your Vision With Memorial Eye Center - Barker Cypress

Diabetic Retinopathy

Preserve Your Vision With Memorial Eye Center - Barker Cypress

Schedule Eye Exam

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


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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 Memorial Eye Center - Barker Cypress 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, Memorial Eye Center - Barker Cypress in Cypress 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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment

Our optometry practice in Cypress

Photograph of Christopher  Doan
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

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.
Patient Reviews
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279 Reviews
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- Feb. 22, 2023
Awesome service … Nice and friendly … Quick and efficient. Affordable.
- Jan. 27, 2023
Simply smashing! What can I said just smashing! Thank you very much. Cordially, Carlo Concha
- Jan. 22, 2023
Great place. They thoroughly explain everything to you. Everyone is polite and professional. Highly ... recommend.
- Jan. 20, 2023
Lovely experience
- Jan. 19, 2023
Very professional staff. Loved Dr Sharma!
- Jan. 17, 2023
They are the best
- Jan. 03, 2023
Always great service!! Top Notch!!
- Dec. 09, 2022
Everyone is friendly and they take your concerns seriously
- Nov. 23, 2022
Great staff, everyone is friendly and accommodating, and they are awesome with kids.
- Nov. 22, 2022
Friendly staff, clean (and beautiful) facilities, and informative! The staff let me know the cost of... everything at the desk when I asked, and I was not surprised with a different bill at the end of my visit. Dr. Mimi is an awesome doctor and super nice!
- Nov. 21, 2022
Dr. Ziskrout is the best!
- Nov. 11, 2022
The staff was friendly, professional and timely!
- Oct. 18, 2022
Dr. Ziskrout and the tech explained everything very well. When with Dr. Ziskrout, he made me feel ve... ry welcomed, relaxed, and made sure to answer any questions I had. The tech made sure I knew what each test was for and what to expect. She also made sure I knew what the dilation and/or pictures were for that I opted out of. Once informed, I chose to do the pictures which my insurance partially paid, my portion didn't cost much. I was also pleased that my contact order was fast; ordered on Tuesday and came in on Saturday. That is also another plus, they are opened on Saturday.
- Oct. 07, 2022
good
- Oct. 06, 2022
Every doctor I’ve seen here has been great, especially Dr. Ziskrout. He’s super easy going and w... ill answer any questions you have and makes you feel comfortable, like you know each other. I’ve also had good experiences with choosing glasses and the people who have helped me. Everyone is nice and I’d recommend this place to anyone.
- Oct. 03, 2022
Have come here for many years and have always had a good experience. Thank you
- Aug. 22, 2022
This is my son first time visiting Memorial Eye Center as a walk in patient. The office was very bus... y but the staff manage to let my son see the doctor. They are awesome.
- Aug. 21, 2022
Friendly and helpful staff. Dr. Ziskrout listens to my concerns and helps me to make the best choice... s for my eye care needs.
- Aug. 13, 2022
Dr. Ziskrout Is a very knowledgeable and caring doctor. He takes time with patients and goes the e... xtra mile to ensure a patients vision is as good as possible! While the staff is friendly and professional, he is the main reason we go there and wait to be seen.
- Aug. 05, 2022
I never have to sit and wait when I have an appointment. The people who work there are very helpful ... and professional.

View All 279 Reviews

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 Memorial Eye Center - Barker Cypress in Cypress 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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam