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# Diabetic Retinopathy in Livonia
Preserve Your Vision With Suburban Eye Care
 (734) 525-8170
## Have diabetes?
**Experiencing changes in vision, such as blurriness and eye floaters?**
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of vision loss around the world. Of an estimated 285 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide, approximately one-third have signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Fortunately, there are several steps people with diabetes can take to prevent or minimize vision loss.
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## What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease caused by high blood sugar levels that damage the small blood vessels clustered within your retina. This leads to swelling or fluid leakage and can result in vision loss and even blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy also raises the risk of retinal detachment and/or glaucoma.
Because the early stages of diabetic retinopathy show no symptoms, many don't realize they have it until the disease has progressed.
If you have diabetes, you are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. To reduce your risk and protect your vision, schedule an eye exam with Suburban Eye Care today.
## What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
As mentioned above, the early phase of diabetic retinopathy typically shows no symptoms. This is why it's important to have routine eye exams (all the more so if you have diabetes), as your eye doctor can detect diabetic retinopathy in its earlier stages before symptoms become apparent.
Symptoms of proliferative diabetic retinopathy include:
* Blurred vision
* Floaters
* Double vision
* Near vision problems
* Seeing dark spots (scotomas)
* Difficulty seeing at night
## What are the Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy?
**Non-Proliferative Retinopathy (early stage):**
 This occurs when small bulges–or microaneurysms–form in blood vessels and can leak fluid into the retina.
**Proliferative Retinopathy (later phase):**
 This refers to abnormal vessel growth and leakage in the retina. This triggers a variety of vision problems such as blurriness, reduced field of vision, and even blindness.
If you have diabetes, Suburban Eye Care in Livonia offers diagnostic tests and treatment options to help preserve your vision. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome.
## How Optometrists Diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy
* ### Medical history
  Your optometrist will ask about your medical history, including diabetes, as well as your family history of eye conditions.
* ### Dilated pupil exam
  Your optometrist will apply eye drops to dilate the pupils so they can see inside the eye and detect any issues.
* ### Fluorescein angiography
  This eye test uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid.
* ### Optical coherence tomography
  This imaging method shows a cross-section of the retina and can indicate whether vessels are leaking fluid into the retina.
## How to Treat Diabetic Retinopathy
Treatment begins with managing blood sugar levels and diabetes. This means eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and taking whatever diabetes medication has been prescribed.
Other treatments will depend on the stage or severity of the disease. If caught early, only blood sugar management may be necessary.
**However, if you're in a more advanced stage of the diseases, treatment options may include:**
* **Eye medications.** Steroid and Anti-VEGF treatments can stop inflammation and prevent the formation of new blood vessels.
* **Laser surgery.** Reduces the proliferation of abnormal blood vessels and swelling in the retina.
* **Vitrectomy.** If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may need an eye surgery called vitrectomy. This procedure removes scar tissue, blood or fluid, and some of the vitreous gel so light rays can better focus on the retina.
## Diabetic Retinopathy FAQs
As the name suggests, diabetes is the main risk factor for developing diabetic retinopathy. Be mindful of your family history of type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, get an annual eye exam to detect potential problems early.
Other conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Moreover, those of African or Hispanic descent have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
There are a number of ways to preserve your vision and reduce the risk of vision and eye damage due to diabetic retinopathy.
* Visit your eye doctor for annual eye exams.
* Control your blood sugar levels.
* Maintain healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
* Exercise regularly.
* Quit smoking.
The best thing you can do right now is to schedule your eye exam with Suburban Eye Care in Livonia to ensure that everything is in check.
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness among work-aged adults. It affects one in three people with diabetes and often goes unnoticed at first. Diagnosing and treating the condition early on can prevent severe vision loss.
## Meet our Diabetic Retinopathy Specialist
      Kayla Smith O.D., FOVDR       Patient Reviews   4.8      418 Reviews    5    4    3    2    1           - Jan. 23, 2025   Great service and staff. Highly recommend for pediatric eye exams.        - Dec. 22, 2024   Staff was friendly, knowledgeable and caring. Dr. Arnold spent extra time helping me find the correc... t contact lense.        - Dec. 21, 2024   Dr. Arnold is a great eye dr., and he takes time and explain everything concerning your eyes.        - Dec. 12, 2024   We have been coming to you guys since 2001!!! Yep. Over 2 decades. We love you. However, very sad Dr...  Jacobi is retiring. We love him But, we use Dr. Smith, and she is WONDERFUL.        - Dec. 09, 2024   Always a great experience. Dr. Jacobi is a caring and truly helpful low vision specialist and provi... des excellent service. The staff is helpful and friendly as well.        - Nov. 19, 2024   Doctor and staff are very knowledgeable, helpful, and easy to talk with. This was my first visit, a... nd I look forward to my next!        - Oct. 23, 2024   Very awesome staff!!        - Oct. 12, 2024   Attention, caring and thorough exam, answers, direction. I always feel confident that I've gotten th... e best care and advice. Takes time, not rushed through. Best experience.        - Oct. 11, 2024   Dr Arnold is excellent and everyone that works there is awesome        - Sep. 19, 2024   Amber is amazing to work with and extremely helpful        - Aug. 30, 2024   I always appreciate their professionalism while making me feel like part of the family.        - Aug. 28, 2024   All the staff was very good and helpful Amber and Andrew are awesome!        - Jul. 24, 2024   Great group of people that work there and the service is excellent        - Jul. 18, 2024   Dr. Jacobi is a very knowledgeable and detailed doctor. He is also very funny and makes you feel com... fortable.        - Jun. 30, 2024   Suburban Eye Care provide the latest in eye technology and eye care services        - Jun. 20, 2024   Excellent place for Vision Therapy! Our child was struggling with reading and below grade level and ... after working with the therapists here, he’s made huge improvements and loves to read. We’re very happy with the program!        - Jun. 12, 2024   There is nothing that needs to be changed about this place. From the initial phone call to every ap... pointment we've had has been beyond 5 stars. I've recommended my sister as well. Dr Arnold....don't ever leave. I'll follow you. Love the entire staff.        - Jun. 06, 2024   Vision Therapy was the best thing for my daughter. She really struggled with reading. We went to the...  eye doctor and was told her eyes were fine. Then spoke with a friend whose daughter was currently in VT and the symptoms she said she had were what my daughter had. We made an appointment to Suburban and she spent the next 9 months in VT. There were times where it was hard and we didn’t know if we could make it through some of the activities each week but we did and the growth she showed was amazing. Her grades have improved especially in reading and spelling. We are so grateful for VT!        - May. 27, 2024   excellent eye care, very friendly and efficient admin staff.        - May. 22, 2024   The best eye care in Michigan! Period!
## Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Livonia
         (734) 525-8170
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[### Meet our Eye Doctors
 !    Hours
* Monday   10:00 am - 1:00 pm
  3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
* Tuesday   9:00 am - 6:00 pm
* Wednesday   9:00 am - 6:00 pm
* Thursday   10:00 am - 1:00 pm
* Friday   9:00 am - 4:00 pm
* Saturday   Closed
* Sunday   Closed
    Insurance Plans
* VSP
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* Spectera
* Anthem
* EyeMed
* Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
* Blue Cross
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Have diabetes?
Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.
Suburban Eye Care
32415 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, Michigan, 48154, (734) 525-8170
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# Macular Degeneration
Know your risks and preserve your vision
## What Is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration, also called AMD or age-related macular degeneration, occurs when the macula — the central portion of the retina — begins to wear down, causing central vision loss.
People who suffer from AMD tend to lose their “straight ahead” vision, making it difficult to read, drive, and recognize faces.
Total vision loss is unlikely, as there's typically enough peripheral vision to allow for other activities of daily life.
### Types of Macular Degeneration:
* **Dry AMD:** small deposits called drusen damage retinal nerve cells and reduce vision
* **Wet AMD:** new blood vessels form that leak and release fluid that harms the macula. This is a more severe form of AMD that can more quickly cause vision loss.
## Don’t Let AMD Rob You of Your Sight
An estimated 196 million people are living with macular degeneration worldwide. Although those affected by it rarely lose all their vision, the vast majority suffer from some degree of vision loss.
While there is currently no cure for AMD, there are certain treatments that can slow its progression — and low vision aids that can increase independent functioning.
If you think you're at risk or are experiencing symptoms, contact Suburban Eye Care today. We can diagnose and help treat the disease.
## Risk Factors for AMD
* ### Aged 50+
  The onset of AMD usually happens over the age of 50 and increases substantially with time. For instance, a 2% risk at age 55 can turn into a 30% risk by age 75.
* ### Lifestyle factors
  Smoking or eating a diet high in saturated fat can increase your risk of AMD. Furthermore, these habits increase the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease–two additional risk factors for AMD.
* ### Obesity
  Research shows that people with a BMI of over 30 double their chances of developing AMD.
* ### Family History
  If you have a close relative with AMD, you have a higher risk of developing this eye condition.
## How to Stop the Progression of Macular Degeneration
While there isn’t yet a cure for AMD or an effective way of reversing vision loss that has already occurred, you can take certain steps and adopt new habits to slow the progression of the disease.
Furthermore, certain treatments can slow its progression and low vision aids that can increase independent functioning.
Talk to us about how you can slow the progression of the disease and avoid vision loss by contacting Suburban Eye Care today.
## Macular Degeneration FAQs
You may have AMD and not know it. Typically, symptoms may not develop until the advanced stage of the eye disease.
First signs of AMD may include:
* Blind spots or dark spots
* Straight lines appearing distorted or wavy
* Faded colors
For early detection and better outcomes, it's important to undergo regular eye exams at our eye clinic, especially if you have a family history of AMD or other risk factors.
Statistics indicate that 8.7% of the world population has macular degeneration. The rate of AMD is expected to increase from 196 million in 2022 to 288 million by 2040.
Currently, the most common treatment for wet AMD is the injection of medications called anti-VEGF agents. High levels of VEGF in the eye increase the formation of abnormal blood vessels that cause much of the damage in wet AMD.
## Meet our Macular Degeneration Specialist
## Macular Degeneration Treatment in Livonia
Don’t let AMD stop you from doing the things you love.