Total Vision La Quinta

Diabetic Eye Exams in La Quinta

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Preventing Vision Loss

Diabetes is a chronic health condition affecting how your body produces or uses insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. In the US, more than 37 million adults have diabetes, and 96 million have prediabetes. Yet, many adults don’t know they have it.

Diabetes can lead to multiple health complications, including heart disease, foot problems, hearing loss, kidney disease, skin conditions, and vision loss.

Annual diabetic eye exams can help prevent 95% of vision loss caused by diabetes. Get help managing your symptoms today.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes affects blood sugar (glucose) levels. Elevated blood sugar can damage cells, contributing to diabetic eye disease and permanent vision loss. Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye conditions—cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, and glaucoma—commonly resulting from diabetes.Diabetic eye exams focus on the retina and blood vessels to evaluate your eye health. Monitoring eye tissue changes can uncover eye health risks and help your optometrist prescribe appropriate solutions.

A cataract is a cloudy spot that develops on the eye’s normally clear lens. The cataract prevents light from easily entering the eye, causing hazy or blurry vision. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, but diabetes can increase your risk of developing cataracts at a younger age.

Learn more about managing cataracts.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease linked to diabetes. Elevated blood sugar levels weaken blood vessels in the eye, leading to bleeding and fluid leakage. The abnormal blood vessels can cause retina swelling or scarring.

As a result, diabetic retinopathy can cause:

Increased eye pressure (glaucoma)

Diabetic macular edema is often a complication of diabetic retinopathy. When elevated blood sugar levels weaken blood vessels, the vessels bleed or leak into the eye. The excess fluid affects macula function and health, causing swelling and tissue thickening.

The macula is the central part of the retina responsible for seeing color and fine details. When the macula is damaged, it can cause:

  • Decreased central vision
  • Distorted images & sizes

Glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve, a bundle of nerve fibers responsible for transmitting visual signals to the brain. Diabetes nearly doubles your risk of developing open-angle glaucoma.

With diabetic retinopathy, raised blood sugar levels weaken blood vessels in the eye. The abnormal blood vessels bleed or leak. The excess fluid increases eye pressure, pressing on the optic nerve. Over time, the loss of nerve fibers decreases vision, resulting in blindness.

Learn more about glaucoma.

Get the Care You Deserve

Our team at Old Town Optix Optometry genuinely cares about your eye health. So don’t wait to get the care you deserve. Together we can help you take control of your vision with personalized eye care solutions.

Come See What We’re About

Our practice is located in the Old Town La Quinta shopping mall complex. Find our door to the right of the Old Town Tavern. Plenty of parking is available on the south side of the building, facing Avenida La Fonda.

Our Address

  • 78015 Main St #107
  • La Quinta, CA 92253

Contact Information

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