About Diabetic Retinopathy
at Center for Sight in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Diabetic Retinopathy is the most frequent cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years old.

However, with early diagnosis and treatment, progression of the disease and its associated vision loss can at a minimum be slowed, and in many cases vision loss from Diabetic Retinopathy can be prevented. (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/suppl_1/s99)

There are many patients with Diabetes Mellitus who think that the underlying disease is simply an inability to effectively metabolize and process glucose.  Unfortunately, the reality is that the effects of diabetes are considerably more widespread and actually effect many organs and tissues throughout your body.  Diabetes is actually a disease of the small blood vessels throughout the body.  When diabetes damages these small blood vessels it will impair the normal circulation of blood in certain organs and tissues.  It is quite common for patients with diabetes to experience difficulty with the circulation in their legs, kidneys, heart, brain and eyes-especially the very small blood vessels of the eye found in the Retina.  When diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels in the retina, it is called Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic Retinopathy tends to appear and progress in Stages (http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp) as follows:

• Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy

• Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy

• Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy

• Proliferative Retinopathy

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or even if you are just glucose intolerant, you should have a thorough diabetic eye examination at Center for Sight. Please call us in Fall River, Massachusetts at 508.677.0041 or in Woonsocket, Rhode Island at 401.769.6323.

Center for Sight is conveniently located for diabetic patients in need of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in Massachusetts or Rhode Island from Attleboro, Fairhaven, Fall River, Franklin, Mansfield, Marion, Mattapoisett, Medfield, Milford, New Bedford, North Attleboro, North Dartmouth, Norton, Oxford, Rehobeth, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Walpole, Whitinsville, Woonsocket, Providence, Smithfield, Westport, Lakeville, Dighton, Little Compton, and Tiverton.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic Eye Examinations

Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy