Preserve Your Vision With Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th

Diabetic Retinopathy in Tucson

Preserve Your Vision With Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th

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


Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

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 Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th 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, Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th in Tucson 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 Tucson

Our optometry practice in Tucson

Photograph of Paul Cinalli
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
  • Dec. 25 Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Spectera
  • Davis Vision
  • Medicaid
  • Avesis
  • Anthem
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • EyeMed
  • Blue Cross
  • MetLife
  • Advantage Care

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
4.8
300 Reviews
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- Nov. 07, 2023
Dr. Paul Cinalli is experienced, knowledgeable and friendly. I had an easy and nonstressful experien... ce. He also gives a tremendous amount of feedback concerning your eyes.
- Oct. 31, 2023
They work with a lot of insurances. They are kind and patient and do a great job of explaining compl... icated material.
- Oct. 10, 2023
My new prescription matches my eyesight perfectly (thank you, Dr Cinalli!) and I love my new glasses... (thank you, Myranda, for helping me choose frames). I highly recommend Alvernon Optical!
- Sep. 16, 2023
I'll be going there for the rest of my life, they very good...
- Sep. 13, 2023
Wow...Fantastic experience all the way around today. The person whom greeted me and conducted the i... nitial tests, Dr. Laura S. was great and the person whom helped me with my glasses (forgot her name... 🙁 ). I'll keep coming back!!
- Sep. 04, 2023
Amazing place! Very friendly staff.
- Aug. 12, 2023
Great staff and overall good experience.
- Jul. 21, 2023
Great customer service year after year!
- Jul. 16, 2023
All the staff are great , I had one small issue and they went above and beyond to help me correct it... 🙂, I would recommend Alvernon Optical to all that is looking for somewhere to go for eye care
- May. 17, 2023
Easy and convenient to schedule exam, Dr & Staff are easy to communicate with and they demonstrate p... rofessionalism and knowledge.
- May. 01, 2023
I have been going yo Dr Cinalli for years. He is an amazing eye doctor who is super respectful & pro... fessional. His office always run on time and I appreciate them.
- Apr. 15, 2023
I have been going here for years and consistently have great and friendly service from the staff and... Dr. Cinalli! I highly recommend!!
- Apr. 02, 2023
My new glasses were a perfect fit and the service was excellent.
- Apr. 01, 2023
Outstanding experience at alvernon optical.
- Mar. 23, 2023
The staff and doctor's who served me for checking my eyes and getting a pair of glasses have been ve... ry nice
- Mar. 02, 2023
Good experience, dr was very good, convenient location. I didn’t find a set of eyewear but the sta... ff wasn’t pushy. I’ll revisit next year or so
- Feb. 10, 2023
Love this place, I’ve been going here since I was a teenager, which was over 20 years ago and will... continue to go back. Everyone is so friendly and helpful , wonderful customer service
- Jan. 30, 2023
Dr. Cinelli is very thorough and explains any questions you have.
- Jan. 01, 2023
The Best eye care that I have ever received in 55 years!!! Thanx Everyone!!!
- Dec. 01, 2022
I have always appreciated the high quality of the patient care and glasses at Alvernon Optical.

View All 300 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 Alvernon Optical - Alvernon & 5th in Tucson 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