Diabetic Retinopathy in Lubbock | West Texas Eye Associates

Diabetic Eye Care in Lubbock

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Diabetes can damage the blood vessels in your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. Diabetic retinopathy often develops before you notice vision changes. Regular eye exams and treatment when needed can help protect your sight.

At West Texas Eye Associates in Lubbock, Douglas Jin, MD, evaluates diabetic eye disease and recommends monitoring or treatment based on your findings. Dr. Jin is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained retina surgeon.

If you’re due for a diabetic eye exam or need care for an existing diagnosis, schedule an eye appointment to understand your retinal health and next steps.

Symptoms and When to Seek Care

Early diabetic retinopathy often has no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms occur, you may notice:

Blurry, wavy, or changing vision
Difficulty reading or recognizing faces
Dark spots or strings floating across your vision
Dark or missing areas in your sight

Tell your eye doctor about vision changes, even if they come and go.

Sudden vision loss, flashes, new floaters, or a shadow across your vision may signal a retinal detachment or another eye emergency. During our 8-to-5 business hours, please call us; otherwise, visit your nearest emergency center.

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Diabetic Retinopathy Stages and Macular Edema

Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

In this stage, existing retinal blood vessels become damaged and may leak or become blocked. The changes can range from mild to severe, even when your vision still seems clear.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

In this advanced stage, abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina. These fragile vessels can bleed into the eye. Scar tissue can also pull on the retina, causing it to detach.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Leaking fluid can swell the macula, the part of your retina responsible for sharp central vision. Called diabetic macular edema (DME), this swelling can occur during either stage of retinopathy.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains these stages and diabetic macular edema. For more detail, read our guide to diabetic retinopathy stages and symptoms, including why retinal exams matter even when your eyesight seems clear.

In this stage, existing retinal blood vessels become damaged and may leak or become blocked. The changes can range from mild to severe, even when your vision still seems clear.

In this advanced stage, abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina. These fragile vessels can bleed into the eye. Scar tissue can also pull on the retina, causing it to detach.

Leaking fluid can swell the macula, the part of your retina responsible for sharp central vision. Called diabetic macular edema (DME), this swelling can occur during either stage of retinopathy.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains these stages and diabetic macular edema. For more detail, read our guide to diabetic retinopathy stages and symptoms, including why retinal exams matter even when your eyesight seems clear.

Diagnosing Diabetic Retinopathy

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A dilated eye exam is the primary way to detect diabetic retinopathy. Your doctor uses eye drops to widen your pupils and examine the retina for blood vessel damage, swelling, and bleeding.

Additional testing may include:

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), a scan that helps measure retinal swelling.
Fluorescein angiography, which uses dye injected into a vein in your arm to identify leaking or blocked retinal blood vessels.

Your findings guide the treatment plan and follow-up schedule.

Treatment Options for Diabetic Retinopathy

Treatment depends on the disease stage, retinal swelling, and your vision. Your retina specialist may recommend monitoring, injections, laser, surgery, or a combination, and will explain the benefits and risks.

The goal is to protect your vision. Treatment may also improve vision in some patients, although permanent damage can limit recovery.

Eye Injections

Eye injections deliver medication inside the eye to control swelling or abnormal blood vessel growth. A common type, called anti-VEGF medicine, blocks vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein involved in these changes.

Your specialist may recommend these injections for diabetic macular edema or proliferative retinopathy. Repeat treatment may be needed, with timing based on your eye’s response.

Learn what to expect from an eye injection, including preparation and aftercare.

Laser Treatment

Laser can reduce the risk of vision loss from proliferative retinopathy. In selected cases, it can also treat leaking blood vessels associated with macular edema.

Your specialist will explain whether laser treatment is appropriate for your retinal findings.

Vitrectomy Surgery

Vitrectomy removes vitreous, the gel inside the eye, and allows the surgeon to clear blood or remove scar tissue. Your surgeon may recommend it for severe or persistent bleeding, or scar tissue that pulls on the retina.

Learn about surgery for retinal detachment, which can occur when scar tissue pulls the retina out of position.

Eye injections deliver medication inside the eye to control swelling or abnormal blood vessel growth. A common type, called anti-VEGF medicine, blocks vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein involved in these changes.

Your specialist may recommend these injections for diabetic macular edema or proliferative retinopathy. Repeat treatment may be needed, with timing based on your eye’s response.

Learn what to expect from an eye injection, including preparation and aftercare.

Laser can reduce the risk of vision loss from proliferative retinopathy. In selected cases, it can also treat leaking blood vessels associated with macular edema.

Your specialist will explain whether laser treatment is appropriate for your retinal findings.

Vitrectomy removes vitreous, the gel inside the eye, and allows the surgeon to clear blood or remove scar tissue. Your surgeon may recommend it for severe or persistent bleeding, or scar tissue that pulls on the retina.

Learn about surgery for retinal detachment, which can occur when scar tissue pulls the retina out of position.

Protecting Your Vision Over Time

Work with your diabetes care team to manage blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. If you smoke, ask for help stopping.

Keep the retinal appointments your eye doctor recommends, even when your eyesight seems stable. Follow-up exams help your doctor identify changes and adjust your care.

Schedule Diabetic Retinopathy Care in Lubbock

Schedule an evaluation to check for diabetic eye disease or discuss care for an existing diagnosis. For sudden vision loss, new flashes, many new floaters, or a curtain or shadow across your vision, seek immediate care rather than using routine online scheduling.

Schedule an Eye Appointment 1-806-792-5900

FAQ: Diabetic Retinopathy

Yes. Blood vessel damage can develop before you notice symptoms. A dilated eye exam can reveal retinal changes even when your vision seems normal.

Your eye doctor will recommend a schedule based on your diabetes history and retinal findings. People with retinopathy generally need at least annual exams, with more frequent visits if the condition progresses. Some people with no retinopathy on prior exams and well-controlled blood sugar levels may qualify for screening every 1 to 2 years.

Not always. Some changes can be monitored. Swelling that threatens central vision, abnormal blood vessel growth, or bleeding may require treatment. Your specialist will explain whether treatment is needed and how soon it should begin.

The number and timing vary. Some patients need ongoing injections, while others can have treatments less often as their condition improves. Your specialist uses your vision, retinal scans, and response to medication to guide the schedule.

Vision may improve when treatment reduces retinal swelling or clears bleeding. Permanent damage can limit recovery. Your specialist will discuss the likely benefits and limitations for your eye.

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes before pregnancy, plan a dilated eye exam before pregnancy and during the first trimester. Your doctor may recommend additional monitoring during pregnancy and after delivery. Gestational diabetes alone generally does not require additional retinopathy screening during pregnancy. Report new vision symptoms to your care team.