Eye Consultants of Colorado

Diabetic Eye Exams in Conifer

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Diabetes & Your Eyes: How to Protect Your Vision

Protecting your eyes starts with annual dilated eye exams. A diabetic eye exam is more in-depth than a standard eye exam; it allows us to assess your eyes for all signs of diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema (DME). Depending on the results of your exam, we may specify a frequent examination schedule.

Protect your vision. Please book your next appointment with our team today!

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Vision?

Diabetes can increase the risk of developing a range of diseases, including:

High blood sugar is known to damage the blood vessels in the retina, leading to diabetic retinopathy. Studies have shown that actively controlling your diabetes through diet and lifestyle choices can influence diabetic retinopathy development.

Diabetic Retinopathy develops in 4 stages:

  • Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy: Microaneurysms occur in the retina’s blood vessels, potentially leaking fluid into the retina.
  • Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy: The retina’s blood vessels swell, impairing their ability to transport blood.
  • Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy: Much of the retina is starved of blood, causing the retina to attempt to regrow new blood vessels. These new blood vessels are often weak and cause further damage.
  • Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: New blood vessels grow along the retina’s surface and into the vitreous gel (a fluid that fills the eye). These fragile blood vessels are prone to damage and often leave scar tissue when they die. This scar tissue can cause retinal detachment, which can result in total vision loss.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) occurs when diabetic retinopathy leaks blood and fluids into the central part of your retina, known as the macula. Over time, the macula can swell, leading to vision loss.

How Is Diabetic Eye Disease Treated?

Anti-VEGF injection therapy blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), preventing additional blood vessels from growing, decreasing the fluid in the retina.

Most people require monthly injections for the first six months of treatment, with the frequency of injections reducing as treatment progresses.

During focal/grid macular laser surgery, a precise laser is used to create small burns on the damaged blood vessels. This procedure seals them, reducing how much fluid leaks into the retina.

While effective in suppressing DME, prolonged use of corticosteroids can increase the risk of cataracts and glaucoma.

Preserve Your Vision: Book an Appointment Today!

Only you can take the steps needed to preserve your vision, but we can help guide the way! Please, book an appointment with our team today.

Our Location

Visit our award-winning location today! You can find our practice right on Main Street, next to Safeway. We offer ample free parking with accessibility options for our patients.

Our Address

Suite 220, 27122 Main Street
Conifer, CO 80433

Contact

Phone: (720) 410-5325

Hours

Mondays
8 AM5 PM
Tuesdays
1 PM7 PM
Wednesdays
1 PM7 PM
Thursdays
8 AM5 PM
Fridays
8 AM12 PM
Saturdays
Closed
Sundays
Closed

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