Diabetic Eye Care

As part of our commitment to improving outcomes for patients with diabetes, we have expanded our telemedicine (teleretinal) screening Program to accelerate the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and improve access to care. Our specialized diabetes eye care team includes leaders in diabetic eye care, retinal disease and pediatric ophthalmology, providing expert diagnosis, treatment, counseling and long-term disease management.

We also closely monitor individuals with or at risk for diabetic retinopathy using personalized risk assessments and evidence-based therapies to slow or prevent disease progression. By integrating advanced imaging technologies with individualized treatment strategies and leveraging remote screening tools, we help individuals preserve vision and quality of life, often long before surgical intervention may be needed.

As members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)’s Preferred Practice Patterns Committee (PPPC), our ophthalmologists help shape national guidelines for comprehensive adult eye care, including diabetic retinopathy. We remain dedicated to advancing the standard of diabetic eye care through early detection, personalized treatment and integrated care, improving outcomes for our communities and beyond.

We are one of only 13 centers worldwide designated as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-Based Vision Care, a distinction funded by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH) that recognizes our commitment to advancing evidence-based medicine and eye care. Our contributions to research and determining the most effective treatments in patient care serve as a model for clinical sites around the world.

We offer access to the latest diagnostics and the most advanced medical, laser and surgical treatments for the prevention, early detection and management of the full spectrum of diabetic eye conditions.

At the forefront of innovation, our Program uses advanced, high-resolution imaging technologies, including OCT, OCTA, widefield fundus photography and fluorescein angiography, to detect even the earliest signs of diabetic eye disease. These tools allow us to assess subtle vascular changes, such as macular ischemia and capillary nonperfusion, often before symptoms arise or vision is affected.

We offer a full range of medical therapies tailored to each patient’s condition and treatment response. These include intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and corticosteroid implants for chronic diabetic macular edema. For patients with advanced disease, we provide precision laser therapies such as panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy as well as advanced surgical interventions such as vitrectomy, membrane peeling and glaucoma surgery. Our retina specialists are experienced in performing combined procedures to address multiple ocular conditions in a single surgical setting.

To support long-term outcomes, we provide personalized rehabilitation and supportive care services to help patients adapt to vision changes, optimize remaining sight and maintain quality of life.

We offer a comprehensive suite of advanced diagnostics and treatments for diabetic eye disease, including:

We offer the most advanced medical, laser and surgical therapies to protect and restore vision in patients with diabetic eye disease.

As part of the NIH-sponsored DRCR Retina Network, Montefiore Einstein has helped drive major advances in the clinical care of diabetic eye disease. Our collaborative research spans multiple clinical trials, including NEI/NIH-funded studies, translating new scientific discoveries into improved diagnostics and treatments for people with or at risk for diabetic retinopathy.

Montefiore Einstein played a pivotal role in the landmark NIDDK-funded Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), which transformed diabetes care by showing that early, intensive blood glucose control markedly lowers the risk of diabetic retinopathy and other vision-threatening complications. Our research integrates basic, translational and clinical science to advance understanding, diagnosis and management of diabetic eye disease, with key efforts in molecular mechanisms of retinopathy, health outcomes, telemedicine-based screening, cost-effectiveness of screening and therapies, and the development of novel diagnostics and treatments.

A teleretinal triage program at Montefiore Einstein demonstrated that telemedicine and digital health tools can increase screening, expand sight-saving access to care and improve adherence to annual eye exams in underserved communities with high rates of type 2 diabetes and retinopathy. Our scientists are also defining molecular drivers of disease, including work on tumor necrosis factor ligand-related molecule 1A, which may help explain progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy after primary vitrectomy, and our ophthalmologists help shape national standards through leadership roles in the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Preferred Practice Patterns Committee, ensuring that evidence-based guidelines for screening and managing diabetic eye disease inform care locally and globally.

Our Program is recognized for its collaborative approach and comprehensive clinical care—extending beyond the walls of Montefiore Einstein into the community through targeted outreach initiatives designed to preserve vision, slow disease progression, prevent both vision loss and blindness and enhance quality of life—particularly among vulnerable populations. Key efforts include community education, telemedicine-based strategies for the early detection and management of diabetic eye disease and other ophthalmic conditions and our partnership with Lighthouse Guild Technology Peers for Accessible Living (Tech Pals) Program, which bridges generations through personalized technology mentorship for individuals with vision loss. This unique initiative pairs blind or visually impaired young adults with older adults to foster digital literacy and independence. Through these and other initiatives, we continue to expand access to care, preserve continuity and reduce disparities—advancing eye health across the communities we serve.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of vision-threatening conditions that can affect individuals with diabetes, including nonproliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema (DME), macular ischemia, cataracts and glaucoma. In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not cause noticeable symptoms, but as the disease progresses, it can lead to vision loss and blindness if left untreated.

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common form, occurs when chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Diabetic macular edema, a complication of retinopathy, involves swelling in the macula, the central area of the retina responsible for sharp vision, and can significantly impair central vision. Additional complications of advanced diabetic retinopathy include neovascular glaucoma, vitreous hemorrhage and tractional retinal detachment. People with diabetes are also at increased risk for developing cataracts at a younger age. Diagnosis typically involves a comprehensive dilated eye exam, and treatment may include medications, laser therapy or surgery depending on the severity and type of condition. Regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for early detection and treatment. Maintaining optimal control of blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol can significantly reduce the risk and progression of diabetic eye disease.