Diabetic Eye Disease & Retinal Disorders

Diagnosis of Diabetic Eye Disease & Retinal Disorders

At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Integrated Surgical Institute, management of diabetic eye disease and other retinal disorders is facilitated through state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies. An ophthalmic nurse or technician conducts the patient’s initial, comprehensive eye exam. This is followed by a scan of the retina and a full clinical evaluation by an experienced retina specialist. Diagnostic technologies offered at the Integrated Surgical Institute include:

• Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A noninvasive imaging technique that produces high‑resolution cross‑sectional images of the retina, enabling detailed assessment of retinal structure.
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA): A noninvasive modality that visualizes blood flow within the retinal and choroidal vasculature without the need for dye injection.
• Fluorescein angiography (FA): An imaging study that evaluates retinal circulation following intravenous administration of fluorescein dye, helping identify vascular leakage and abnormalities.
• Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography: A complementary angiographic technique used to assess deeper choroidal blood vessels after intravenous injection of indocyanine green dye.
• Ultra‑widefield fundus photography: A noninvasive imaging method that provides an expanded view of the peripheral retina, allowing detection of pathology beyond the posterior pole.
• B‑scan ultrasonography: A noninvasive ultrasound examination that uses sound waves to visualize intraocular structures, particularly useful when media opacity (such as cataract or vitreous hemorrhage) limits direct retinal visualization.
• Visual electrophysiology: A group of specialized assessments that measure electrical responses of the retina and visual pathways to light stimuli, aiding in evaluation of visual system function.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) analysis: A special AI camera can analyze the risk for complications from diabetic retinopathy.

Treatment of Diabetic Eye Disease & Retinal Disorders

Because certain retinal diseases are due to underlying conditions that affect multiple organs, the Integrated Surgical Institute works in collaboration with experts in other specialties at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to provide comprehensive Patients First care. These include Endocrinology, Neurology, Rheumatology, and Internal Medicine.

With any eye procedure, patients need to arrange assistance with transportation home after treatment. Public transportation and taxi information can be found on Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s How to Get Here page.