Preserve Your Vision With Crown Vision Center - St. Ann

Diabetic Retinopathy in St. Louis

Preserve Your Vision With Crown Vision Center - St. Ann

(314) 423-2010

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 Crown Vision Center - St. Ann 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, Crown Vision Center - St. Ann in St. Louis 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 Crown Vision Center - St. Ann in St. Louis 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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309 Reviews
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- Dec. 08, 2024
I have always had a warm, friendly experience at this eye center. The staff are professional and kno... wledgeable, and are willing to discuss your questions and concerns.
- Dec. 06, 2024
I personally appreciate that they are all professional, friendly and timely with their service. Both... my daughters got eye exams and prescription glasses here.
- Nov. 21, 2024
The staff has always been professional, pleasant and easy to work with. I have never had any problem... s whenever I visit for my yearly eye exam.
- Oct. 27, 2024
Everyone was super friendly and smiling! (so rare these days) The doctor and the staff all answered... my questions with no hesitations. I ordered glasses and contacts, and all of them arrived earlier than promised. Thank you for being such a great example of customer service!
- Sep. 15, 2024
Just good service and friendly people! Love my glasses ! 👓
- Aug. 17, 2024
They were very good and patient with my 2 young Autistic children.
- Aug. 16, 2024
The staff is extremely attentive and goes the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied with your purch... ase. They are also patient with kids who are indecisive about making a choice on which glasses to choose. Their service is unmatched.
- Aug. 15, 2024
I always receive excellent customer service by phone and in person at the St. Ann location! Great j... ob!
- Jul. 24, 2024
My experience was very good. I've been other places and they've been terrible. So yeah we'll be comi... ng back🙂
- Jun. 12, 2024
Absolutely love this locating and the staff. They’re all so willing to help and assist as soon as ... you walk in the door. They’re polite when it comes to explaining things and offer a wide array of glasses. They don’t rush your appointment and give you time to get any questions answered. I’ve been for both me and my 4yo and we both were treated gracefully. I will definitely recommend this location to anyone needing an exam or glasses
- May. 26, 2024
Dr. Mark Wade examined both my eyes told me had cataract in both eyes. I had surgery done successful... ly now have heathy vision in both eyes. Thank you Dr. Mark Wade and staff with new sight and glasses.
- May. 08, 2024
Great service! would highly recommend, Everyone was very kind and helpful.Keep up the amazing work c... rown vision team.
- May. 07, 2024
They are very very nice i was able to get my glasses very very fast and very affordable. They have m... any glasses to choose from and they have many affordable and pretty glasses to choose from. 10/10 recommended!!!
- Mar. 18, 2024
Great place with great staff.
- Feb. 19, 2024
I didn’t think they were very good at all until I experienced them. I always thought the other com... pany was more professional, but I was fooled Crown Vision is a very good company to visit. They are very thorough and they know what they’re doing. I would recommend them to anybody
- Feb. 12, 2024
It was so quick and easy. The whole staffs great.
- Dec. 08, 2023
Crown Vision is the place to be! The staff is always friendly and professional!
- Nov. 27, 2023
Cindy Scott was very informative and her customer service skills are impressive.
- Oct. 19, 2023
Love it
- Oct. 17, 2023
Ryanne was great helped me with my broken glasses and got me set up with a eye exam. Thank you very ... nice and polite staff. Answering all my questions.

View All 309 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in St. Louis

Our optometry practice in St. Louis

Photograph of Mark  Wade
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(314) 423-2010