Your Guide to Retinopathy

Retinopathy means a disease has damaged the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye that send images via the optic nerve to the brain. If something blocks the retina or causes it to separate from the eye, vision loss may result.

Common causes of retinopathy include chronic, uncontrolled disorders such as diabetes or hypertension. These diseases affect how blood flows through the retina and may cause damage to the tiny blood vessels in this area of the eye. Your eye doctor in Weston, FL, can diagnose and treat retinopathy.

Symptoms of Retinopathy

Symptoms of retinopathy may be mild or severe. Surprisingly, if you’re in the early stages of this disorder, you may have no symptoms at all. For this reason, it’s important to make regular appointments for comprehensive eye exams. This is especially true if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or another illness that may affect your vision. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty reading
• Trouble seeing at night
• Problems seeing far away
• Dark spots or shadows in your vision
• Unexplained flashes of light
• Spot or strings that seem to float in your vision

Any one of these may be a symptom of a serious condition such as retinopathy. If you’re experiencing one or more of these problems, call your eye doctor today. It’s important to diagnose and treat retinopathy in the early stages to prevent the condition from worsening.

Retinopathy Treatment

Treatment for retinopathy begins with controlling the disease that caused it. This means getting blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control. Your primary care physician can help you manage diabetes and hypertension, and regular vision screenings can help prevent further vision loss. Treatment options include laser therapy, injections of corticosteroids, and surgery. However, if you’re in the early stages of retinopathy, and you’re able to manage underlying issues, your vision specialist may simply monitor your condition to ensure it doesn’t worsen over time.

Call Rouse Family Eye Care

If you would like an eye exam in Weston, FL, Rouse Family Eye Care is a sound solution. Call today to book an appointment with one of our highly trained and friendly vision specialists. Our vision screenings are your best defense against vision loss due to retinopathy. Contact us today for a consultation.