Preserve Your Vision With Omni Vision - Potranco

Diabetic Retinopathy in Far West Side

Preserve Your Vision With Omni Vision - Potranco

(210) 858-4001

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 Omni Vision - Potranco 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, Omni Vision - Potranco in Far West Side 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 Omni Vision - Potranco in Far West Side 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.


Meet our Diabetic Retinopathy Specialist

Patient Reviews
4.5
385 Reviews
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- Apr. 23, 2025
Dr. Garza really takes care of her patients. She is highly recommended.
- Apr. 08, 2025
Great job! Have not been here for (5 years and my glasses went bad in like 1 year and I get spam mai... l all the time from them)....a while, but South Korean style spy looking glasses, everyone can do it themselves and book an appointment online and get a pair!
- Mar. 27, 2025
Excellent customer service
- Mar. 24, 2025
The staff was great professional and had so much patience with my little ones. I definitely recommen... d Omni Vision to all my friends and family. Thank you so much for making this process so easy and making us feel so welcomed.
- Mar. 12, 2025
Very professionell and very nice
- Mar. 07, 2025
Very friendly and wonderful with my daughter.Great with kids.
- Feb. 24, 2025
Staff was amazing and very knowledgeable and very supportive
- Jan. 29, 2025
The team was very knowledgeable and very helpful!
- Jan. 11, 2025
Great place to get your exam, Mrs.Garza and her team are very professional.
- Dec. 17, 2024
Honest and reliable friendly staff and you don't have to sit around for 20-30 minutes
- Sep. 27, 2024
Nice office, staff and eye doctor. He took the time explain everything and the visit went smoothly.
- Aug. 24, 2024
We had a great experience. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. Dr. J. Garza was great with... my boys. Very efficient and kind. Thank you so much. I'm happy to find our new eye doctor. 🥰
- Aug. 14, 2024
Everyone is so nice and helpful.
- Jul. 15, 2024
Top professional Staff along with One the best optometrist I’ve ever seen. Everyone in this buildi... ng knows what they’re doing and are extremely friendly. I want to make sure that they’re taken care of you. I have never met such a well staffed and super friendly people in my entire life. You guys are the best keep up the great work, especially the young lady that help me fit my glasses. You are the best.!!!
- Jun. 25, 2024
I used to go to America’s Best, but I am sticking with this place now. They got me in quick with a... short wait and Dr. Marquez was friendly and thorough with the exam.
- Jun. 20, 2024
Staff is nice!
- Jun. 03, 2024
Super clean facility and staff were super nice and patient:)
- May. 29, 2024
always helpful, courteous and friendly
- May. 22, 2024
The staff was kind and I received a thorough examination. This was my first time at this facility an... d it will be the one I continue to use!
- May. 13, 2024
(Translated by Google) They speak Spanish, they accept medical plans. They are very professional and... friendly. Ample parking and very comfortable office. (Original) Hablan español, aceptan planes medicos. Son muy profesionales y amables. Amplio estacionamiento y oficina muy comoda.

View All 385 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Far West Side

Our optometry practice in Far West Side

Photograph of Cody Harrison
Hours
  • Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross

blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(210) 858-4001