Preserve Your Vision With Rouse EyeCare Center

Diabetic Retinopathy in Lacey

Preserve Your Vision With Rouse EyeCare Center

(360) 455-4425

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 Rouse EyeCare Center 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, Rouse EyeCare Center in Lacey 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 Rouse EyeCare Center in Lacey 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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398 Reviews
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- Nov. 03, 2024
Great staff!
- Oct. 25, 2024
Great experience and professional and helpful staff members.
- Oct. 15, 2024
This place is amazing! Everyone was super friendly and knowledgeable. I actually learned so much and... was educated about things that no other eye doctor has cared to bring up and I’ve been to many. They truly care about your eye health - present and future. The optician I worked with after my appointment was also great and helped me find a pair of glasses that worked well with my budget and contacts as well. I definitely recommend Dr. Rouse and his staff to everyone!
- Oct. 10, 2024
By far the most knowledgeable staff we have ever worked with. Or frame choices were the most informe... d we've ever made.
- Sep. 15, 2024
Good vision care center and Dr Rouse.
- Sep. 10, 2024
I recently moved here from Utah and finding a place for my Vision Care that I can trust and be safe ... with was hard. I had some people recommended Rouse EyeCare Center … AND I FREAKIN’ LOVE IT! I had such an amazing visit at Rouse EyeCare Center. The whole experiences from the start to the end was amazing.I felt safe throughout the whole visit and I have never had so much fun shopping for glasses. Mia is that person who you can go to make you feel and look good! I left the building so happy knowing that this is the place I can go to for my vision care. Dr. Rouse, your staffs are AMAZING! Your people have shown great professionalism, knowledge, patience, diligence, and positivity.
- Aug. 27, 2024
Dr. Rouse is more thorough than other eye drs I've seen. He is an excellent physician and he makes c... ertain that patients will get the best care. My spouse and I highly recommend him.
- Aug. 27, 2024
I can't say enough good things about my experience getting glasses fitted that were perfect the mome... nt I walked out the door. No adjustments or tweaking. For the first time ever, I have progressive glasses with the corrections in the right place that don't dig into my nose bridge. Mia is a wizard at helping me choose and fit the perfect glasses for me! Great, competent service like this is rare. I won't go anywhere else in the future.
- Aug. 24, 2024
This is a great eye care center with a fantastic staff.
- Aug. 23, 2024
Outstanding Customer Service
- Aug. 06, 2024
My husband and I recently moved to Lacey and we found Dr. Rouse Eyecare Center. We were pleased wit... h the service and enjoyed the assistance in picking out glasses that suited our faces from Mia! Mia is professional, cheerful and fun to work with. Thank you Mia. I love my Sun Glasses!!
- Jul. 30, 2024
Even though it was clear that it was a busy morning everyone was pitching in to help one another and... they got everyone in the lobby taken care of very quickly. The staff is very good about spending quality time and ask a lot of questions to make sure you get the right product for you. I was helped by Mia who was very personable, knew her materials, glasses, vendors, and even when things were busy she took the time with myself, and others, to take care of our needs when it was our turn. I can't thank you all enough. You do a great job.
- Jul. 13, 2024
Awesome
- Jun. 26, 2024
A+
- Jun. 20, 2024
Best eye doctor in our region.
- Jun. 15, 2024
We had a tremendous experience! You notice the care with your first exam compared to many of the cha... in stores we went to in the past. He is fantastic with figuring out kids vision issues too!
- Jun. 07, 2024
helpful.
- May. 16, 2024
10/10 experience, Melissa and Mia helped me pick out the perfect glasses! Everyone was so personable... and helpful. Dr. Rouse even came out to see, because the girls had told him how great they would look great! Would definitely recommend rouse eye care to anyone! Thank you! Y’all guys are amazing!
- May. 05, 2024
We have been patients at Dr. Rouse’s clinic for two years. I appreciate how each staff member trea... ts patients efficiently, respectfully, and kindly. Dr. Rouse takes time to give a thorough exam and is so friendly with his patients. If you need new glasses, they have a great selection of frames and will take all the time needed to help you find a frame that fits your style and lenses that meet your needs. We definitely recommend Rouse EyeCare Center in Lacey.
- May. 05, 2024
They really take good care of your needs! Highly recommended!

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Lacey

Our optometry practice in Lacey

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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(360) 455-4425