Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults, and most damage is invisible until it’s advanced. Annual exams with SLO retinal imaging — most patients skip dilation.
2601 S. IH-35, Suite C-100 Round Rock, TX 78664
Mon–Sat 9am–6pm
Walk-ins welcome
Dr. Nonso Nwankwo
Accepting new patients
cause of preventable blindness in
US adults
Americans with diabetes at risk of eye damage
of serious vision loss preventable with early detection
When blood sugar runs high over time, it damages the walls of the tiny blood vessels that supply your retina. Those vessels start to leak, swell, or close off, and in advanced cases the eye responds by growing new blood vessels that are fragile and prone to bleeding.
This condition is called diabetic retinopathy, and it’s the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. The critical problem is that early and mid stages produce no symptoms at all. Your vision can feel completely normal while significant damage is already underway.
During a retinal exam, our doctors can see things entirely invisible to you: microaneurysms, small areas of bleeding, fluid buildup near the center of your vision, and early signs of abnormal blood vessel growth. Finding these early, before any vision change, is when intervention is most effective and least invasive.
Damage to retinal blood vessels at any stage, from mild leakage to advanced proliferative disease
Fluid buildup near the center of the retina that blurs central vision
Diabetes roughly doubles your risk; elevated pressure is often the first detectable sign
People with diabetes develop them earlier and faster than the general population
Blood sugar swings cause temporary lens swelling and blurry vision
If your doctor does recommend dilation based on what they see, they’ll let you know before the exam. For most patients with no advanced disease, SLO imaging alone is sufficient.
Type 1 retinopathy typically takes years to develop, so the first exam window is slightly longer — but annual monitoring from that point forward is important.
Type 2 is often undiagnosed for years, meaning retinal damage may already be present by the time you’re diagnosed.
We also work directly with your endocrinologist or primary care provider when you’d like us to, so your eye health and blood sugar management stay connected rather than handled separately.
Important:
Diabetic eye exams are typically billed as medical visits, not vision visits — meaning they’re often covered under medical insurance, including
Medicare Part B, rather than your vision plan. Call before booking if you’re unsure how your exam will be billed.
Accepting new patients