What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy can damage your eyes even before you notice changes in your vision. Damaging your peripheral and central retina (the macula). During the early stages of the disease, the blood vessels of the retina can either become blocked (causing blood supply shortage) or leak and hemorrhage (releasing blood and fluid into the vitreous (clear jelly in the eye)). Both of these progressions can drastically reduce vision and damage the retina.
In the United States diabetes affects approximately 9.4% of our population or close to 30.3 million people with diabetes, with the disease being one of the most common causes of reduced vision. Everyone with diabetes are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have had diabetes, the more at risk you are of developing diabetic eye disease.
Is Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Effective?
Surgery to treat diabetic retinopathy is safe and effective – but it is important to ensure an understanding of the risks which may be involved. You should discuss treatment with your ophthalmologist. If you do not have surgery your condition may continue to worsen.
What Are My Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Options?
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include laser surgery, intravitreal injections, and in some cases, vitrectomy. Successfully managing your diabetes is a large part in preventative care. However, the surgical treatments that are available are extremely successful in maintaining and stabilizing vision.
Knowing your short and long term glucose levels is extremely useful in managing your care while preventing any possible vision loss in the future.
Meet Your Doctor
Dan Langley, D.O., F.A.O.C.O.
Board Certified Ophthalmic Surgeon
An internationally recognized ophthalmology fellow and expert in modern cataract surgery. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in cataract surgery, lens implants, and refractive surgeries such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS). Certified on the wavelight refractive suite, he performs the “Custom Bladeless LASIK” procedure and is also uniquely trained in surgical treatments for glaucoma and presbyopia. Always at the forefront of innovation, Dr. Langley is one of the first surgeons in Oklahoma to use Dropless,an injectable formulation (Tri-Moxi) administered during cataract surgery to reduce or eliminate the need for drops after cataract surgery. He was the first doctor in Eastern Oklahoma to use the Glaukos iStent for treating glaucoma and one of the first using the Symfony intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract lens replacement.
Originally from Edmonds, Washington, Dr. Langley graduated Cum Laude from Washington State University where he played football and was an active member of the Theta Chi Fraternity. In 2002, Dr. Langley graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and then completed his ophthalmology training in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his residency Dr. Langley earned awards for excellence in refractive and cataract surgery from Oklahoma State University’s Department of Surgery. Upon completion of his residency Dr. Langley also received the Lifelong Education award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Physician’s Recognition Award from the American Medical Association. Dr Langley is also currently rated as one of the top ophthalmologists in the nation on Healthgrades.
Previously he was Assistant Professor of Surgery and Clinical Director for the Department of Ophthalmology for the OSU Medical Center where he trained ophthalmology residents. His passion for restoring eye health does not stop there, Dr. Langley spent 5 years as one of the lead surgeons for a medical mission trip to Piura, Peru performing hundreds of surgical procedures for the Peruvian Catholic community.
An internationally recognized ophthalmology fellow and expert in modern cataract surgery. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, specializing in cataract surgery, lens implants, and refractive surgeries such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and dysfunctional lens syndrome (DLS). Certified on the wavelight refractive suite, he performs the “Custom Bladeless LASIK” procedure and is also uniquely trained in surgical treatments for glaucoma and presbyopia. Always at the forefront of innovation, Dr. Langley is one of the first surgeons in Oklahoma to use Dropless,an injectable formulation (Tri-Moxi) administered during cataract surgery to reduce or eliminate the need for drops after cataract surgery. He was the first doctor in Eastern Oklahoma to use the Glaukos iStent for treating glaucoma and one of the first using the Symfony intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract lens replacement.
Originally from Edmonds, Washington, Dr. Langley graduated Cum Laude from Washington State University where he played football and was an active member of the Theta Chi Fraternity. In 2002, Dr. Langley graduated from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and then completed his ophthalmology training in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his residency Dr. Langley earned awards for excellence in refractive and cataract surgery from Oklahoma State University’s Department of Surgery. Upon completion of his residency Dr. Langley also received the Lifelong Education award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a Physician’s Recognition Award from the American Medical Association. Dr Langley is also currently rated as one of the top ophthalmologists in the nation on Healthgrades.
Previously he was Assistant Professor of Surgery and Clinical Director for the Department of Ophthalmology for the OSU Medical Center where he trained ophthalmology residents. His passion for restoring eye health does not stop there, Dr. Langley spent 5 years as one of the lead surgeons for a medical mission trip to Piura, Peru performing hundreds of surgical procedures for the Peruvian Catholic community.
