Diabetic Retinopathy

Fuad Makkouk, MD and the team at Austin Eye Center understand that having Diabetes can be tough. Dr. Makkouk is both an Ophthalmologist and Retinal Surgeon and can perform laser, injections, or surgery to help treat your Diabetic Retinopathy. If you need a Diabetic Eye Exam or have the complication call or book an appointment online today.

Diabetic Retinopathy

When Diabetes affects the eyes it is called Diabetic Retinopathy. The complication can cause vision loss and even blindness. This occurs as high levels of sugar in the blood can cause damage to the walls of the blood vessels in the Retina, and other parts of the body such as the Kidneys and Brain. These damaged blood vessels can then leak, causing swelling, or burst, causing bleeding, within the retina. The damaged blood vessels may also grow into the wrong parts of the eye causing other issues such as retinal detachment or glaucoma.

Symptoms

Mild Diabetic Retinopathy may not have symptoms or Diabetics may notice: blurred vision, fluctuating vision, floaters, or flashes of light. Timely examination and treatment is essential to keeping these symptoms from becoming permanent.

Types

There are two types of Diabetic Retinopathy: Non-proliferative and Proliferative Diaebtic Retinopathy. Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the earlier stage of Diabetic Retinopathy, and in this stage the retinal blood vessel walls are damaged from high blood sugars. This damage then causes both leakage and bleeding within the retina which can lead to vision loss.

Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy is called Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and is very aggressive. In this form of of the condition, blood vessels begin to grow into the wrong places of the eye and can lead to vision loss and even retinal detachment and glaucoma.

Treatments

Dr. Makkouk is Retina Surgery trained from Yale University and has all of the knowledge and tools to provide the best treatment for the condition for each individual patient. Treatment options may include lasers, injections, or surgery to help stop the disease from progressing.

For patient centered Diabetic Retinopathy care call Austin Eye Center or book an appointment online today.

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Floaters

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Macular Hole

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Vitrectomy

During a vitrectomy, Dr. Fuad Makkouk, will remove the jelly from the back of the eye called the vitreous..

Dr. Makkouk welcomes new and existing patients to Austin Eye Center.

To learn more, call or book an appointment online today.

Diabetic Retinopathy