Preserve Your Vision With Insight Vision Center - Lenexa

Diabetic Retinopathy in Lenexa

Preserve Your Vision With Insight Vision Center - Lenexa

(913) 254-7456

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 Insight Vision Center - Lenexa 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, Insight Vision Center - Lenexa in Lenexa 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 Insight Vision Center - Lenexa in Lenexa 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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202 Reviews
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- Nov. 27, 2024
Doc was great. Did a nice job of explaining everything to me and made me feel awesome about making ... it to almost 50 before requiring readers! Hi Five Insight!
- Nov. 25, 2024
Thank you Lindsey and Dr. Eisenbarth!
- Nov. 22, 2024
I have tried other vision care places and none of them compare to Insight Vision and Dr. Marr. Gre... at service, wonderful staff, and Dr. Marr takes time to find out what will work for you and your lifestyle. Love it!
- Nov. 18, 2024
Thank you for the good 3 years coming here! Dr. Marr is really great! I just called to figure out wh... ich eye has my elevated optic nerve so that my new job can keep an eye on it since I started working at the eye doctor office in Olathe!
- Nov. 18, 2024
They are awesome! Quick service, knowledgeble employees, and great options.
- Nov. 03, 2024
Dr Marr is amazing! Kind and understanding. He'll spend the extra time explaining things to you with... out making you feel like you're dumb or an inconvenience. Took my baby to get their eyes checked and Dr Marr did an amazing job at putting my baby at ease and making them feel comfortable.
- Oct. 15, 2024
Dr. Marr and team at the Lenexa location are beyond amazing. They are super friendly and always take... great care of me! 10/10 cannot recommend them enough!
- Oct. 04, 2024
Great place, friendly staff. Quick service.
- Sep. 16, 2024
Dr. Marr and his staff are AMAZING! I had an emergency over the weekend, they got me right in, and s... aw me on my quick lunch break. He was thorough, yet considerate of my time. He ensured I’d have enough contacts to get through my “emergency situation”, and made sure he gave me to give me the best deal for prescriptions. I cannot say enough good things about his office! I will definitely be sending my friends, patients and family his way! Thanks again guys!!!
- Aug. 27, 2024
I stopped into Insight Vision Center to have my new glasses check & Brittany was wonderful. She spot... ted a flaw on my glasses I never noticed that could throw off my vision. I actually purchased my glasses from Costco, who missed the flaw. I'm so happy Brittany spotted it. She's excellent & knows about glasses. Next time I'll use Insight.
- Jul. 12, 2024
I received a thorough eye exam, and it was taken care of by a friendly, caring staff
- Jun. 21, 2024
They are an awesome team! Lindsey provides excellent customer service and we never feel rushed. Dr. ... Marr provided us with an in depth eye exam and explained eye health concerns. He is very detailed and thorough. They are all so friendly with a great sense of humor (sorry I don't remember everyone's name).
- Jun. 06, 2024
Dr Marr is fabulous. Staff is friendly, prompt, and thorough.
- Jun. 03, 2024
Just wanted to say thank you for a great eye experience. Candid, honest, compassionate and very fun!... From scheduling to my appointment to ordering. I will be back and will highly recommend.
- May. 29, 2024
This was a clean and efficient office. The medical equipment was modern and the staff and eye docto... r (Kyle) were friendly and exceptionally easy to work with.
- May. 23, 2024
I moved over to Insight Vision Center for my eye care May 2024 and I was quite pleased. I told my w... ife & she just saw them as well. I would recommend Dr Marr.
- May. 22, 2024
Highly recommend! Dr. Marr was thorough in his testing and assessment. The glasses I received per ... his prescription was spot-on. Super-friendly staff and ease of scheduling made the experience even better. If you're looking for a new vision-provider, you should definitely put these folks at the top of your list. Right off K-10 and Woodland, they're easily accessible.
- May. 17, 2024
Love this insight location in Lenexa. Doctor is the best and staff is great.
- May. 11, 2024
Dr. Marr provided excellent care and was very professional. Took time to explain different options ... and had a great recommendation for me. The staff in the office were very polite and got me an appointment that same day. I give them 6 stars!!
- May. 11, 2024
Knowledgeable staff in a friendly no pressure environment

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Lenexa

Our optometry practice in Lenexa

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(913) 254-7456