Protecting Your Vision with Comprehensive Diabetic Eye Care in the Bronx

Pelham Parkway Vision Center is committed to providing specialized eye care for patients with diabetes. We understand the unique challenges diabetes can pose to your vision and are here to help you maintain optimal eye health.

Diabetes and Your Eyes: Understanding the Risks

Diabetes can affect various parts of the eye, but the most common and serious condition is diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. This damage can lead to vision loss if not detected and treated early.

Other diabetes-related eye problems include:

  • Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): Swelling in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision.
  • Cataracts: People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts, and at a younger age.
  • Glaucoma: The risk of glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve, is also higher in people with diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy: A Closer Look

Diabetic retinopathy often has no early symptoms. As the condition progresses, you may experience:

  • Blurred vision
  • Fluctuating vision
  • Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
  • Impaired color vision
  • Dark or empty areas in your vision
  • Vision loss

It’s crucial to have regular eye exams, even if you don’t notice any changes in your vision.

The Importance of Regular Diabetic Eye Exams

If you have diabetes, you should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year, or more frequently as recommended by your eye doctor. A comprehensive diabetic eye exam at Pelham Parkway Vision Center includes:

  • Visual acuity testing: To check how well you see.
  • Pupil dilation: Eye drops are used to widen your pupils, allowing your doctor to better view the retina.
  • Ophthalmoscopy: Examination of the retina and optic nerve using a special instrument.
  • Tonometry: Measurement of the pressure inside your eye to check for glaucoma.
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): If indicated, this imaging technique provides detailed cross-sectional views of the retina.

Our Approach to Diabetic Eye Care at Pelham Parkway Vision Center

At Pelham Parkway Vision Center, we take a proactive approach to diabetic eye care. We work closely with your primary care physician or endocrinologist to manage your overall health and minimize the risk of vision loss. Our services include:

  • Comprehensive eye exams tailored to the needs of patients with diabetes.
  • Early detection and management of diabetic retinopathy and other eye complications.
  • State-of-the-art diagnostic technology.
  • Personalized treatment plans to address your specific condition.
  • Education and counseling on how to manage your diabetes and protect your vision.

Treatment Options for Diabetic Eye Disease

The best way to prevent vision loss from diabetic eye disease is to control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. However, if eye problems develop, treatment options may include:

  • Medication: Injections of drugs into the eye to reduce swelling in diabetic macular edema.
  • Laser treatment: To seal leaking blood vessels in the retina.
  • Surgery: In advanced cases, a vitrectomy may be needed to remove blood or scar tissue from the eye.

Schedule Your Diabetic Eye Exam Today

Don’t wait until you notice vision problems to get your eyes checked. If you have diabetes, regular eye exams are essential for protecting your sight. Contact Pelham Parkway Vision Center today to schedule your comprehensive diabetic eye exam.