Diabetic Eye Exams in Vegas
Las Vegas eye care
In the United States, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 65. While it can cause cataracts and glaucoma, diabetes can also cause a complication involving retinal blood vessels that nourish the eye becoming abnormal and damaged due to raised sugar levels. This is known as diabetic retinopathy, and at the office of Dr. Paul Thompson, we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized diabetic Las Vegas eye care and management.
Often, one may not be aware of any symptoms even when significant diabetic retinopathy is present, so it is important to visit your Dr. Thompson for Las Vegas eye care as an eye exam by an ophthalmologist or retina specialist is the only means of detecting diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Thompson will perform a comprehensive eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, pupil dilation, and careful examination of your retina. After the pupil is dilated, a device is used to view the retina and determine the extent of the retinopathy. Your eye doctor may administer a fluorescein dye test, where an injection of dye into a vein in the arm is followed by several minutes of retinal photos being taken. This creates a detailed cross-sectional image of the eye, allowing Dr. Thompson to better determine the extent of your retinopathy. However, the best therapy for diabetic retinopathy, as with most optical ailments, is prevention. Studies show that strict control of blood sugar levels can significantly lower the risk of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. Laser surgery is often the first line of treatment if macular edema or proliferative retinopathy is present. The primary goal of this treatment is to prevent further vision loss, but it is not a cure. Other, less invasive treatments include medications.
If you are experiencing blurred vision to any extent, or notice small specks or large floaters obscuring your vision, especially if you are diabetic, is it vital to your optical and overall health that you contact the office of Dr. Thompson for a comprehensive eye exam and Las Vegas eye care. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, but it can easily be prevented by calling and scheduling an appointment with Dr. Thompson today.
