Diabetic retinopathy involves swelling, leaking or abnormal growth of blood vessels in or near the retina. There are multiple stages to this disease, the earliest of which may not present any symptoms you can see.
Symptoms you can see include dark or black spots in your vision that increase over time, or severely blurred vision due to bleeding within the eye.
That’s why comprehensive eye exams are so important when thinking about diabetes and eye sight—both type 1 and type 2 diabetics are at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, and the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop some form of the disease.
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include replacement of the inner gel inside the eye (called a vitrectomy) and different kinds of laser surgery. A recent clinical trial also suggested that better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of the disease in many patients.
Special thanks to the EyeGlass Guide, for informational material that aided in the creation of this website. Visit the EyeGlass Guide today!
Dr. John is a 2020 graduate of The Ohio State University with a major in microbiology and received his Doctor of Optometry degree with honors from The Ohio State University in 2024. While in optometry school, Dr. John completed his ocular disease rotation at the Chillicothe VA Medical Center where he saw and managed glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and optic neuropathies. He also enjoyed his time in the Binocular Vision/Pediatric clinic and Contact Lens clinic fitting all types of soft and specialty contact lenses. He is now a member of the Ohio Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association. Dr. John grew up in Lancaster, Ohio where he enjoyed competing in sports and spending time outdoors. He is excited to begin his career in optometry and join the Chester Eye Center team.