Preserve Your Vision With Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care

Diabetic Retinopathy in Highlands Ranch

Preserve Your Vision With Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care

Schedule Eye Exam

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


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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 Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care 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, Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care in Highlands Ranch 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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Highlands Ranch

Our optometry practice in Highlands Ranch

Photograph of Lawrence Jacobs
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Wednesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Medicaid
  • Anthem
  • EyeMed
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife

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.
Patient Reviews
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87 Reviews
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- Sep. 22, 2023
Best eye exam I have ever had with such up to date imaging and so friendly and Dr. Jacobs is incredi... ble !!!!! Jules is just amazing and makes you feel so welcomed and like you are family!
- Sep. 08, 2023
Everyone is always very helpful and pleasant at Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care and Dr. Jacobs is a wond... erful eye doctor! We have consistently had excellent care and our glasses and contacts have been fantastic!
- Aug. 02, 2023
Dr Jacob’s is a very caring and passionate provider! This is a top notch practice from the person... al from the front desk to the doctors. The atmosphere when you walk in is fantastic!
- Jul. 02, 2023
This is an excellent eye care business. My family has gone here for years and we’ve been impresse... d every time with the expertise and professionalism of Dr. Jacobs and the whole staff. I highly recommend them for regular exams or any kind of issue. We’ve had great experiences with all the glasses they made for us too.
- Jun. 25, 2023
Fran was a wonderful help. Great selection of quality frames. Excellent customer service
- May. 31, 2023
I’ve been going here for over a decade and Dr. Jacobs is awesome!
- May. 19, 2023
Staff at HD EyeCare took time to help me find the perfect glasses!
- Aug. 23, 2022
Dr. Quinton is exceptional with her eyes exam and explained everything in clear manner, no rush serv... ice. Front staff also so kind and professional. 👏
- Aug. 12, 2022
I’ve been coming here for years and have always had exceptional eye care service. I was in this we... ek for my annual visit and it was my favorite experience yet. Appointment started exactly on time, was never rushed, staff was friendly and professional, felt like I had plenty of time to discuss my eye health with Dr. Jacobs who is excellent at his craft. Chose some awesome new glasses and appointment was completed in less than the one hour that I was told it would be. Love this place for my whole families’ eye care needs!!
- Jul. 28, 2022
I really enjoyed my time with Fran at HD Eye Care. She was kind and helpful to both my wife and eye,... even with our three young children in tow. Loved their selection of frames - way more unique than what I could find elsewhere.
- Jun. 30, 2022
I've been going to Dr. Jacobs for my eye health for decades now and he is my favorite doctor ever (o... f any field\specialty) and the office and staff are also excellent. I wouldn't think of SEEING any other eye doctor!
- May. 06, 2022
I love coming to HD Eye Care. Dr. Quinton is very knowledgeable and compassionate. She took the ti... me to explain and made sure my son can put in and remove his contact lenses. The staff is very courteous and caring.
- Mar. 23, 2022
Dr. Jacobs was amazing, friendly, & very informative. Also Jules was so nice & polite. Love this pla... ce!
- Feb. 02, 2022
Fantastic service! 10/10 recommended and will go again!
- Jan. 29, 2022
I had an emergency visit and Dr. Quinton was able to find time for me immediately. She was knowledge... able and professional. I saw Dr. Jacobs a few times after that and he was also fantastic. He made sure he would get me healthy without breaking the bank. I am so glad I went here and I'll recommend this practice to everyone. The nursing and front desk staff are wonderful, too. Thank you all for being the best in the business!
- Dec. 30, 2021
This was the best experience I've had at an eye doctor bar none and it's not even close. The doctor ... was extraordinarily knowledgeable and personable and I felt completely comfortable in his care, and the entire staff at the front were exceptionally cordial and helpful and I left with a great pair of glasses. Can't imagine wanting to go anywhere else after this experience.
- Nov. 23, 2021
Probably the best experience I've had at an eye doctor. Everyone I spoke with was kind, professional... and made me feel super welcome. I'm so glad to have found an eye doctor that I love!
- Oct. 14, 2021
Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care is the best! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable and their select... ion of frames is amazing!
- Sep. 03, 2021
My first time at the eye doctor ever. Had a wonderful experience. They were very patient with me and... I highly recommend them!
- Jul. 12, 2021
I have received nothing short of A+ service. Very thorough exams both routine and urgent. I greatly... appreciate the care!

View All 87 Reviews

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 Highlands Ranch HD Eye Care in Highlands Ranch 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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam