Patient’s Guide to Retinopathy

Retinopathy refers to any disease that affects the retina, but most of us think of diabetic retinopathy when we hear this term. In reality, there are several different types of retinal diseases, and not all are caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. Your eye doctor in Wellington, FL, can diagnose and treat retinopathy, and they can help you manage the condition that’s causing it.

Types of Retinopathy
There are roughly five different types of retinopathy, but the two most common are caused by hypertension and diabetes. They include:

Hypertensive Retinopathy — Hypertensive Retinopathy is caused by uncontrolled high blood pressure. Left unaddressed, hypertensive retinopathy may lead to blindness.
Diabetic Retinopathy — Diabetic retinopathy is a side effect of diabetes. Elevated levels of sugar in the blood cause the tiny blood vessels that feed the retina to become blocked. In response, new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow. However, they don’t work very well and may bleed or leak. This causes dark spots to appear in your vision.
Both conditions require treatment to prevent vision from worsening.

Symptoms of Retinopathy
Symptoms of retinopathy include blurred vision, floaters, black or empty spots in your vision, and vision that seems to fade in and out. If you notice changes taking place with the way you see the world, make an appointment with your eye doctor right away.

Retinopathy Diagnosis
Treatment for retinopathy begins with a dilated eye exam. Your eye doctor will put drops in your eyes that cause your pupils to dilate. They will then use an ophthalmoscope to peer closely into your eye to see if there are signs of retinopathy.

For more information on retinopathy in Wellington, FL, call Vision Source Family Vision Center today. We’re happy to answer all your questions regarding retinopathy.