Preserve Your Vision With Frisco Family Vision

Diabetic Retinopathy in Frisco

Preserve Your Vision With Frisco Family Vision

(469) 444-8888

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 Frisco Family Vision 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, Frisco Family Vision in Frisco 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 Frisco Family Vision in Frisco 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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60 Reviews
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- Oct. 02, 2024
Very professional!
- Apr. 26, 2024
Friendly staff. They are always ready for me each time I come in for an appointment. I never have to... wait. Great at communicating options and answering questions. I’ve been coming here for 7 years now. Also, I have a strength of contact lenses that is rarely in stock at other stores and they always have mine in stock.
- Feb. 11, 2024
Great visit. They always take good care of my vision. Thank you for excellent service.
- Feb. 02, 2024
Yeah come here. Been wearing glasses for 25 years. In and out in 30 and very friendly.
- Dec. 27, 2023
Excellent staff and excellent service. They are very detailed and friendly.
- Sep. 19, 2023
Awesome place! Best doctors, best staff hands down!
- Sep. 08, 2023
This place is fantastic! It was my first here. Great service and the staff is accommodating! Custome... r service and clean environment is important to me. They did a thorough exam and took their time explaining to me. I didn’t feel rushed. I really appreciate this experience! I highly recommend this place for your next eye care appointment!
- Aug. 18, 2023
Love Dr. Bierderman & her staff! HIghly recommend. Extremely knowledgeable and very personable!
- Jul. 01, 2023
Dr.Biederman is super amazing. I highly recommend visiting her practice for any eye or eyewear needs... . She is amazing to the patients and cares for their needs. Best place in Frisco for a caring Dr and staff that will show you service and quality from the first step or call to Frisco Family Vision. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Jul. 01, 2023
First time me and my husband have been to this office and could not have been happier with our exper... ience. Every person we spoke to in the office was friendly, helpful and professional. The office is very clean, inviting and comfortable. Our wait time was less than 10 minutes even being new patience having to fill out paperwork. Was seen by Dr. Annie Houston and absolutely loved her. She was friendly, easy to talk to and made sure we understood everything. Best overall experience I have ever had in a medical office. Would highly recommend to everyone and will be back.
- Jun. 26, 2023
The waiting room was stylishly appointed. The front desk staff was friendly and efficient. Adrian, t... he tech who took my measurements, was the most pleasant mix of friendly and professional of any doctor’s staff I’ve ever encountered. I would highly recommend this optometrist.
- Jun. 07, 2023
Dr Biederman is friendly and helpful, and I love that my appointments are always quick because her o... ffice staff is so efficient!
- May. 07, 2023
Such a gem of a practice! From start to finish I had a wonderful experience. From booking my appoint... ment on the phone, to checking in with the receptionists, and meeting with the doctor. The receptionists were kind and helpful, and Dr Dana was so patient and friendly. Highly recommend Frisco Family Vision!
- Apr. 13, 2023
The team is amazing. The service was great!
- Dec. 15, 2022
Such a great staff from the minute you walk in. Dr Biederman was so great to put me at ease with th... e process of wrapping my head around having to wear glasses to what to expect as my eyes continue to change and transition in to transitional glasses. At my last visit I decided to switch to contacts and her staff was so helpful in teaching me how to put them in and take them out and especially patient with me. They have definitely helped me in this journey of accepting I don’t have 20/20 vision any more!
- Dec. 02, 2022
We love Dr. Biederman and her staff! Always helpful and give the guidance needed. Our entire family... (2 adults, 2 kids) see her and have for years!
- Jul. 01, 2022
Lauren was very helpful in selecting my daughters frame and was very polite and friendly. Thanks a l... ot!!
- Jun. 09, 2022
Frisco Family Vision has very friendly doctors and staff that always seem happy to help.
- Apr. 08, 2022
Great service. we had an issue and they were willing to fix it immediately I really appreciate when ... a business will take responsibility for some thing and make it right. We will definitely return!!!
- Oct. 27, 2021
Dr. Biederman and her staff are always very thorough, patient, and take the time to answer all quest... ions.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Frisco

Our optometry practice in Frisco

Photograph of Dana  Biederman
Hours
  • Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed
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blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

(469) 444-8888