Lisa M. Nath, MD, LLC
Pittsburgh’s Favorite Personalized Eye Care Center, located in Bellevue, PA!
Diabetic Retinopathy
Stop searching for "Eye Doctor Near Me". We provide comprehensive eye exams to protect your eyes from vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment - Pittsburgh, PA
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of working-age blindness. The condition occurs when high blood sugar levels damage blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision loss. Nearly half of all people with diabetes eventually develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy. It usually occurs in both eyes. There may be no early signs of the disease, so it is recommended that people with diabetes get their eyes checked routinely.
Dr. Lisa Nath, MD provides a wide array of services from routine eye-care to the treatment of more complicated vision and eye-related problems. Our patients receive treatment from state-of-the-art diagnosis equipment such as Optical Coherence Tomography, which allows us to see highly detailed images of your retina. Our clinic is a local favorite thanks to its short wait time, and proximity to major towns in and around Pittsburgh: we are just along Lincoln Avenue. And we create a personalized treatment plan - we don’t rush our care!
We are open to serve you from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm every Friday. Please feel free to call us at 412-734-5022 or request an appointment online. We are always happy to help!
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FAQs on Diabetic Retinopathy:
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage, so it is important that people with diabetes undergo routine eye exams to monitor for signs of trouble.
Some symptoms of advancing diabetic retinopathy may include:
- Reduced or blurred vision
- A sudden change in vision
- Difficulty reading
- Seeing rings around lights or dark spots/dark strings floating in the vision (floaters)
- Flashing lights
- Loss of night vision
- Fluctuating vision
Who’s at Risk of Developing Diabetic Retinopathy?
Uncontrolled diabetes is the primary risk factor for retinopathy. Having two parents with diabetes also significantly increases the risk of developing the condition.
Pregnancy, puberty, poor blood glucose control, hypertension, and cataract surgery can all contribute to a risk of this disease all well.
Further, males are more at risk of retinopathy than females.
How is Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosed?
Patients are diagnosed by directly visualizing the blood vessels of the retina using fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). And before performing these exams, a careful and thorough understanding of the patient’s history is gathered as part of a comprehensive eye examination.
When Should I Have My Eyes Checked?
Patients with diabetes should have an eye exam every year to monitoring for signs of retinopathy. However, a recent study in the AAO's Journal of Ophthalmology showed that more than one-third of Americans with diabetes don't get a yearly dilated exam as recommended, putting them at risk of potentially permanent vision loss.
What is the Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy?
At present, laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy is effective at slowing the progression of retinopathy and reducing vision loss. However, the treatment usually does not restore lost vision. Because these treatments are aimed at preventing vision loss, and because retinopathy can be asymptomatic, it is important to identify and treat patients as early as possible. To achieve this goal, patients with diabetes should be routinely evaluated to detect the development of retinopathy.
If you are diagnosed with diabetes or have been afflicted with it for a while, it is critical to undergo an annual comprehensive eye exam to check the health of your retina. Dr. Lisa Nath, MD and her team of dedicated eye care professionals in Bellevue, PA. would be more than happy to help you manage this condition and take preventive measures if you are on an early onset. Call our office at 412-734-5022 or request an appointment online to effortlessly schedule a convenient time to get your eyes checked for diabetic retinopathy.