If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you’re at risk of developing the eye complication known as diabetic retinopathy. Patients throughout southwest Florida with diabetic retinopathy trust Dr. Malkani of Malkani Retina Center for the most advanced treatment options for this condition to reduce vision loss. Sunil M. Malkani, M.D. has 17 years of experience as a retinal surgeon, and he stays on top of cutting-edge industry trends to bring the best medical procedures to patients suffering from all retinal diseases.
Doctors characterize diabetes by the body’s inability to properly use and store sugar. High glucose levels in the blood can lead to blood vessel issues throughout the body, including in the eyes. When diabetes damages the retina’s blood vessels, leading to blood and other fluid leaks in the retinal tissue, it impacts vision. The retinal tissues swell, causing symptoms such as:
The body’s improper storage of sugar can also change the shape of the eye lens, affecting vision. If left untreated, patients can suffer severe or permanent loss of vision. Fort Myers, FL patients, however, can come to Malkani Retina Center to improve their chances of slowing or even stopping vision loss.
Dr. Malkani and his expert staff can help patients with either type of diabetic retinopathy – proliferative and non-proliferative. The type you have will decide what your prognosis and treatment options are. Here’s the difference between the two types:
is more severe than non-proliferative and almost always results in severe vision loss. PDR is a more advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy, when the body triggers the growth of abnormal blood vessels because the retina is deprived of oxygen. When these blood vessels break, they release blood and fluid into the retinal tissues, causing inflammation and vision loss.
The more common type, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), is its earlier stages. When the central portion of the retina sustains damage to its tiny blood vessels, they can leak fatty material, blood, and fluid into the tissues and cause vision loss. Untreated NPDR can cause macular edema, or the swelling of the macula. In turn, this can also cause vision loss.
The highly trained physicians at Malkani Retina Center will diagnose your diabetic retinopathy and tell you what type you have. Then, they will walk you through all of your treatment options moving forward. While there is currently no cure for it, Fort Myers, FL patients can undergo certain treatments and therapies to reduce the effects of this harmful condition on vision.
Patients with retinal issues in Fort Myers, Naples and Port Charlotte, FL come to Malkani Retina Center for treatment because they know they can expect the highest level of patient care. Dr. Malkani, founder and director of Malkani Retina Center, specializes in vitreoretinal diseases and surgeries, with several professional affiliations, honors, and awards under his belt. Dr. Malkani operates a patient-centered facility, putting the needs of the individual above all else.
With an educational background from the University of North Carolina, the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Florida, Dr. Malkani is more than qualified to help patients suffering from a variety of retina conditions. His expertise is in retinal diseases, with research and publications in medical journals as well as presentations and exhibits at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Read about Dr. Malkani to obtain a full picture of his skills, experience, and capabilities.
The treatment options available for patients cannot bring back vision lost to the condition, although it has improved vision in some cases. However, the treatments are imperative in stopping the progression of diabetic retinopathy and vision loss.
Depending on the severity of the diabetic retinopathy, our patients will experience varying levels of vision loss, even after treatment. Catching diabetic retinopathy early is the best way to maintain your vision and control the permanent effects of this serious disease.
Diabetic retinopathy is one of many retinal conditions that require the expert care of an experienced specialist. Dr. Malkani is one of the most experienced retina specialists in Southwest Florida, and he knows how to give people with diabetic retinopathy their best chance of reserving their vision.
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, keep up with your medications, healthy diet, and exercise regimen to reduce your odds of developing diabetic retinopathy. Fort Myers, FL patients who do suffer this condition should call (239) 324-4888 or reach out to us online as soon as possible to discuss treatment plans at Malkani Retina Center with a professional.