Preserve Your Vision With Macali Eye Clinic

Diabetic Retinopathy in Winter Garden

Preserve Your Vision With Macali Eye Clinic

Schedule Eye Exam

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.

Blood sugar level check


Give Your Eyes the Care They Deserve

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

noraml eye and an eye with  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 Macali Eye Clinic today.


What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?

diabetic-retinopothy-oct-scan

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, Macali Eye Clinic in Winter Garden offers diagnostic tests and treatment options to help preserve your vision. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the treatment outcome.

Diabetic-Retinopathy-Bllod-sugar-level-checker


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.


Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis & Treatment in Winter Garden

Our optometry practice in Winter Garden

Photograph of Neil  Macali
Hours
  • Monday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
  • Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Saturday 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
  • Sunday Closed
Insurance Plans
  • VSP
  • Medicare
  • United Healthcare
  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Spectera
  • Superior Vision
  • Davis Vision
  • EyeMed

How to Treat Diabetic Retinopathy

senior man with 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.
Patient Reviews
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203 Reviews
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- Mar. 13, 2024
Excellent experience, very helpful staff specially optician Mohammad, he is knowledgeable, helpful a... nd a very fun guy. Certainly recommend it
- Mar. 06, 2024
Great experience at the Macali Eye Clinic. Very thorough exam. Dr was absolutely the best that I ev... er had. I’m so thankful to receive such great service from such a friendly staff! I recommend 100%
- Nov. 20, 2023
Discovered this place on the fly, and found that the staffs were very friendly and helpful. I needed... a nose pad repair on one of my branded sunglasses, and they were able to find the right pieces to repair immediately. Highly satisfied with the service and recommend this place!
- Nov. 08, 2023
Dr Macali is absolutely amazing. I went the entire weekend with excruciating pain in my left eye. I ... called the office Monday morning to for a emergency appointment, was scheduled for that afternoon and by that evening my pain was gone! Thank you doctor Macali. You are the best!!!
- Oct. 12, 2023
Exceptional customer service sets this eye care store miles apart from any others I've visited! A h... uge shoutout to Manager Andy, who has not only demonstrated an high level of kindness and helpfulness, but has also gone above and beyond to rectify a small mishap with an old pair of frames. The dedication and outstanding treatment I received from him and his team have not only resolved the issue, but have also secured them a customer for life!
- Oct. 07, 2023
Really nice place, I was helped immediately after arriving, Andy who went above and beyond to help m... e out with a specific request and had a smile the entire time. I will recommend this place to all my friends and family.
- Jul. 12, 2023
Highly recommend!!! This was the best experience I have ever had in eye care. I came in with a not e... asy situation and Andy and Maray were beyond patient, helpful, and informative. They were recommended by a friend and they have now gained a new costumer today. I will continue to recommend them to everyone I know. This is the best customer service I have received in a very long time and cannot wait to pick up my new glasses!
- Jun. 21, 2023
Special thanks to Maray and Carlos🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
- May. 04, 2023
Great location, place opens at 830am not 9am
- Mar. 31, 2023
I recommend the Macali Eye office; all staff was very kind and attentive. Excellent Service!
- Jan. 04, 2023
Robert rocks!!!! He totally fixed my glasses!!!!!!!
- Oct. 28, 2022
Friendly staff, extensive eye exam with options to do extra screening if you would like to pay and t... he building is always clean and neat.
- Aug. 30, 2022
This place is amazing. The staff is wonderful, if you’re looking for great place for your Eyecare ... needs, you have to check out Macali Eye Clinic.
- Aug. 29, 2022
The staff are very friendly and helpful. I really appreciate how the doctor explained things to me a... nd helped me understand some important facts about my eyes. Great experience and highly recommend.
- Aug. 19, 2022
My glasses had become loose and I couldn't read anything. They adjusted them for me with a smile an... d a thank you. Bless you all. I needed my eyes this weekend to work in a hospital in Jax. Thanks again
- Jul. 27, 2022
My partner and I have been clients of Macali Eye Clinic for over 15 years. From scheduling, to exam... s, to eyeglass selections and fitting, everyone there is professional, competent, and genuinely accommodating. And, Dr. Macali has always been thorough with his exam assessments, along with a positive and comfortable bedside manner. Although we don’t have eye insurance, I highly recommend the full exam, because it’s more thorough and a good value, knowing that the annual exam results are also updated in our patient records. As a professional interior designer, I find the physical environment at this facility not only beautiful and carefully thought through, but also stress-free, calming and pleasant. For any type of small business to excel in all of these areas, seems rare these days. Thank you EVERYONE for making our eye exam experience worthwhile and positive… every time!
- May. 11, 2022
(Translated by Google) The attention of the boy who speaks Spanish was excellent, and Doctor Noble w... as very sweet. I am glad that there are people who speak Spanish, so we feel calmer and can communicate when we take the exams 🙂 (Original) La atencion del muchacho que habla español , fue excelente, y la Doctora Noble muy dulce , me alegro que hayan personas que hablen español , asi nos sentimos mas tranquilos y podemos comunicarnos cuando nos hacemos los examenes 🙂
- Apr. 20, 2022
I am very satisfied with the exams and the variety of glasses offered at Otica Macali, but I would l... ike to highlight the excellent service provided by Carlos, for the second year in a row he serves my husband and I with excellence, always kind, with accurate information and agility , a complete and differentiated professional. Thank you Carlos, I wish you much success!!
- Apr. 14, 2022
I have gone to Dr. Macali for over 20 years. Great eye doctor. REQUEST HIM and make sure the staff... confirms that he will be the one seeing you. Very thorough, skilled and professional. This clinic gets very busy so book early. The entire staff is polite, friendly and do their best to get you taken care of in a timely manner.
- Mar. 28, 2022
I switched to Macali Eye Clinic because I wanted a reputable doctor near my new home in Winter Garde... n. The staff at Macali Eye Clinic did not disappoint! They were kind, prompt, professional, and caring. I am so happy to have found a great group of people close to home! I will continue coming to Macali Eye Clinic for years to come.

View All 203 Reviews

Diabetic Retinopathy FAQs

What are the major risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?

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.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

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 Macali Eye Clinic in Winter Garden to ensure that everything is in check.

Does diabetic retinopathy cause blindness?

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.


blood sugaer level testing kit

Have diabetes?

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent vision loss.

Schedule Eye Exam