The Connection Between Diabetic Retinopathy and Low Vision

/in , /by

If you have diabetes, you’re at risk of an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy. This condition can lead to vision loss if you don’t seek treatment and manage diabetes. At Dr. Edward Paul, OD, PhD, our optometrists in Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and Durham, NC, provide treatments for diabetic retinopathy, such as low vision aids and rehabilitation. Let’s explore how this condition affects your vision in more detail!

How Diabetic Retinopathy Affects Your Eyes

This diabetes complication harms the retinas in your eyes, affecting your ability to see. You might not have obvious symptoms at first. But you can slowly lose your vision if you don’t get help for diabetic retinopathy.

Over time, you may develop symptoms, such as:

  • Blurry vision
  • Increasing difficulty seeing clearly
  • Eye redness and/or pain
  • Floaters

You don’t have to wait until you have noticeable symptoms of this condition. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, you should have a low vision evaluation done.

How Low Vision Care Helps

Having an evaluation done allows us to determine which treatment approaches might be most helpful to you. With the right care, you may be able to improve your ability to see clearly or prevent your symptoms from getting worse.

Depending on your evaluation results, we might discuss options with you, such as:

  • Low vision aids, like implanted devices
  • Low vision rehabilitation, including nutritional counseling and mobility-related training

These treatments can help you regain your quality of life while living with diabetic retinopathy!

Set Up a Low Vision Evaluation Today!

Have you been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy? Our optometrists can help treat this condition to protect your vision. We offer evaluations and treatments for low vision in Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and Durham, NC.

Is Low Vision Preventable?

/in , /by

Low vision is more than a nuisance. The name suggests a relatively innocuous condition where a person might not see perfectly. But the complexities of this condition are much more insidious, affecting a person’s ability to live the highest possible quality of life, sometimes preventing them from engaging in common activities that others often take for granted. Given the seriousness of low vision, one might wonder if it’s preventable.

Is Low Vision Preventable?

There are multiple factors that can happen where a person develops low vision, which can be diagnosed by a Wilmington, NC optometrist. Some common causes are:

  • glaucoma
  • cataracts
  • diabetic retinopathy
  • lazy eye
  • macular degeneration
  • and many more

Many of the factors that can be an underlying reason for low vision are theoretically preventable. But in some cases, the odds may be stacked against a person for avoiding low vision.

When Low Vision May Not be Preventable

Some causes of low vision are congenital; that is, a person may be born with certain conditions that either mean they’re born with low vision or they’re born with conditions that will cause them to develop it later in life.

Healthy Lifestyle and Low Vision

If a person has a predisposition toward low vision, adopting a healthy lifestyle in a consistent manner may work to help them avoid this condition from developing. Positive lifestyle habits would include:

  • avoidance of excess in food and alcohol
  • avoidance of tobacco use in any form
  • regular exercise
  • and similar

While a person may or may not be able to prevent low vision, they can certainly get treatment for low vision in Wilmington, NC. There are rehabilitation techniques that can be practiced, as well as devices that have been invented for the explicit purpose of aiding those with low vision. If you or a loved one is in need of treatment for this condition, contact us today to book an appointment.

Shedding Light on Low Vision with The Low Vision Centers of North Carolina

/in /by

February marks Low Vision Awareness Month—a time to illuminate the possibilities for those facing vision challenges. At The Low Vision Centers of North Carolina, with offices in Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville, and Durham, NC, Dr. Edward Paul, Dr. Alexandra Robertson, Dr. Casey Krug, and Dr. Pankti Patel are dedicated to empowering individuals with innovative low vision care.

Understanding Low Vision

Low vision isn’t a barrier to enjoying life; it’s an invitation to explore new ways of engaging with the world. When conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy diminish vision beyond correction with standard glasses or medical treatments, daily activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces can become daunting.

Empowering Through Care

Our team of low vision specialists provides personalized solutions aimed at maximizing independence and confidence. Through advanced devices, tools, and techniques—including specialized glasses, magnifiers, and adaptive lenses—we tailor care to meet individual needs. Patients often rediscover the joy of reading, reconnect with loved ones, pursue hobbies, and regain driving confidence where appropriate.

As proud members of the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists (IALVS), we are committed to delivering compassionate, expert care that enhances quality of life.

How You Can Help

During Low Vision Awareness Month, your support can make a meaningful impact:

  1. Spread Awareness: Use social media to share stories, tips, and resources using hashtags like #LifeAfterVisionLoss and #LowVisionAwareness.
  2. Support Loved Ones: Encourage those experiencing vision loss to consult a low vision optometrist. Personalized care can be truly transformative.
  3. Connect to Resources: Many aren’t aware of specialized low vision care. Help bridge the gap by connecting individuals with the support and tools they deserve.

Why Awareness Matters

Vision loss can be isolating, but with awareness and access to resources, individuals can reclaim independence and joy in their lives. By raising awareness, you empower those with low vision to seek the help they need and seize control of their future.

Take Action Today

This February, join us in shedding light on low vision. Whether you’re sharing information, supporting a loved one, or scheduling a consultation with our team at The Low Vision Centers of North Carolina, your actions can make a difference.

Contact us today to explore personalized solutions tailored to your needs. Together, let’s demonstrate that life after vision loss is full of possibilities.

How Are Telescopic Glasses Helpful?

/in /by

For anyone who experiences low vision, telescopic eyeglasses in Wilmington, NC are real game changers. These devices implement small telescopes that are embedded into the actual eyeglass lenses. If you had to describe what they’re similar to, imagine if you could constantly hold a telescope up to your eyes when you couldn’t see well. Of course, that’s not practical. But with telescopic glasses, a person with low vision can enjoy that experience seamlessly.

What Telescopic Glasses Make Possible

Those who have telescopic glasses have proclaimed how much value these glasses have given them. They make it possible to get a job, work on a computer, enjoy favorite hobbies like reading, playing games, sewing, cooking, knitting and so much more. The emotional and practical benefits of regaining independence are immeasurable.

Support for Detailed Tasks

Individuals with low vision often struggle with fine print, and with doing things that require precision. Think of reading the labels on foods at the grocery store, threading a need, pushing buttons on the TV clicker, or even buttoning up a child’s coat in the winter. For these tasks and more, telescopic eyeglasses are lifesavers.

Distance Vision Enabled

When you think about all the situations where distance viewing is necessary, you can see how beneficial these eyeglasses are. Seeing road signs, watching television or just being able to see where your children are on the soccer field or in the backyard—-it all becomes significantly easier, since telescopic glasses enhance distance vision, too.

Customized for Your Needs

Each pair of telescopic glasses is custom-designed to meet the user’s specific vision requirements. The optometrist assesses the individual’s condition and lifestyle needs, ensuring that the lenses are optimized for activities like driving or reading.

If you or a loved one faces challenges due to low vision, telescopic glasses could provide the clarity and confidence needed to navigate life with ease. Consult with your Wilmington, NC optometrist today to explore this innovative option.