The award-winning team at Four Corners Eye Clinic is committed to providing outstanding, comprehensive eyecare in a compassionate, professional environment.
Appointment RequestMain Office Four Corners Eye Clinic 575 Rivergate Lane #212 Durango, CO 81301 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Satellite Office Farmington Location 3450 E Main St Farmington, NM 87402 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Satellite Office Cortez Location 22 S Beech St Cortez, CO 81321 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Satellite Office Pagosa Springs Location 190 Talisman Dr Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Satellite Office Aztec Location 121 S Main Ave Aztec, NM 87410 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Satellite Office Bayfield Location 49 W Mill St Bayfield, CO 81122 Phone: (970) 259-2202 Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Diabetic Eye Care
If you have diabetes, you know that effective management is key to preventing numerous potential complications. Although it begins when the body cannot effectively process sugar, diabetes is ultimately an illness that can affect many areas of the body, including the eyes, especially when it goes untreated. The award-winning team at Four Corners Eye Clinic offers diabetic eye care in Colorado tailored to the patient’s unique needs and concerns. We have the diagnostic tools and professional experience to help keep your eyes their healthiest.
How Blood Sugar Levels Affect Your Eyes
High blood sugar levels can lead to blockages of the tiny blood vessels in the eye, causing diabetic retinopathy — damage to the retina that’s directly related to diabetes. Lowering your blood sugar can sometimes stabilize or improve vision, especially if high blood sugar is contributing to swelling in the lens of the eye. It’s essential to manage blood sugar consistently to prevent long-term damage.
Over time, diabetic retinopathy can worsen, causing permanent damage to the eye and even loss of vision. This occurs when blood vessels on the surface of the retina break and pull the retina away from its normal position. Called retinal detachment, this is a serious condition that requires medical attention.
The Four Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive disease that is considered nonproliferative in its early stages and proliferative in its final, most advanced stage.
Nonproliferative
This form of diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels become weak but have not yet broken or caused scar tissue. These early stages of the condition often cause only mild or even nonexistent symptoms.
- Stage 1: Mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Stage 2: Moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Stage 3: Severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
Proliferative
This more advanced version of diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels begin to grow abnormally on the surface of the retina. It often causes noticeable visual disturbances.
- Stage 4: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Other Ocular Conditions Related to Diabetes
In addition to diabetic retinopathy, diabetes can lead to other eye conditions, including:
- Increased risk of glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss.
- Early development of cataracts, which thicken and cloud the eye’s lens.
- Diabetic macular edema from fluid leaked into the macula at the back of the retina, causing blurry vision.
- Night vision issues related to damaged blood vessels and nerves.
Diabetic Eye Disease Symptoms & Risk Factors
Diabetic retinopathy and other ocular conditions related to diabetes typically occur when diabetes is poorly managed. In order to diagnose these conditions and effectively treat them, our professionals recommend annual eye exams for patients with diabetes. Symptoms that can indicate damage include the following:
- Visual disturbances that come and go
- Floaters, spots, or shadows
- Pain in your eyes
- Early development of cataracts
People with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes are all at risk for diabetic retinopathy and its complications, including diabetic macular edema.
Are you caring for someone with diabetes? Visit our Eye Care for Your Loved One page.
Personalized Care for Diabetic Patients
Our retina specialist at Four Corners Eye Clinic provides diabetic eye care at our Durango and Cortez, CO, locations in addition to our clinic near Farmington, NM. Our ophthalmologists understand the science of treating this very important area of the eye. During your visit, our providers use our advanced diagnostic tools to evaluate your eyes and help determine the degree of treatment or monitoring you require.
Some common methods for evaluating the retina include:
- Visual acuity testing
- Ocular coherence tomography
- Retinal photography and angiography
If you don’t have a primary care physician to help you manage your diabetes, the ophthalmologists at Four Corners Eye Clinic can refer you to some area physicians who specialize in diabetes care.
Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy may range from careful monitoring to laser-assisted surgery. It’s essential to visit us for regular eye exams so that we can monitor and treat any vision loss. In any case, our providers will guide you through each of your options and ensure you’re well-informed before moving forward with any procedures.
Diabetic Eye Care FAQ
Can a doctor tell you have diabetes by looking in your eyes?
Yes, with a comprehensive eye exam, a doctor can detect diabetes, even in its early stages, before you notice symptoms. Damage from high blood sugar that an eye doctor can see includes changes in the blood vessels in the retina, changes in the optic nerve, and damaged nerve fibers (cotton wool spots).
Are there any visual changes to the eyes when you have diabetes?
As it progresses, diabetes can lead to vision impairments such as blurriness, floaters, loss of color intensity, and more.
Can you reverse diabetic eye problems?
Some early-stage diabetic eye conditions can be managed or slowed down, but they aren’t typically reversible. Early detection and management are key to preventing progression.
How long does it take for diabetes to cause blindness?
The progression of diabetic eye disease varies among individuals. Without proper management, significant vision loss can occur within several years of diabetes onset, but this can be delayed or prevented with regular eye care and blood sugar control.
Is blurry vision from diabetes permanent?
Blurry vision from fluctuating blood sugar may be temporary, but persistent blurriness could indicate a more serious condition.
What percentage of diabetics go blind?
Approximately 5% of people with diabetes may experience severe vision loss or blindness. You can significantly reduce your risk of vision loss with proper management and regular eye exams.
Can eye drops help diabetic retinopathy?
While eye drops can help manage symptoms like dryness, they do not treat the underlying causes of diabetic retinopathy. Treatment typically involves laser therapy, injections, or surgery.
What do diabetic floaters look like?
Diabetic floaters often appear as small spots, strings, or cobweb-like shapes that drift across your field of vision.
What are the black floaters in diabetics’ eyes?
Many diabetics see black floaters caused by small pieces of debris that cast shadows on the retina. These are usually related to bleeding from abnormal blood vessels that have formed.
Get started managing your vision today. Request an appointment in our Durango, Colorado, clinic online, or call us at (970) 259-2202 to schedule your visit. We also see patients at our locations in Cortez and Pagosa Springs, CO.
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