What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that results from diabetes, which can damage blood vessels inside the retina and result in vision loss. This disease usually occurs in both eyes. Between 40 and 45 percent of Americans diagnosed with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. (*)
What causes it?
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, it is important to have a thorough eye exam. Diabetes, which produces high blood-sugar levels in the body, can damage the blood vessels in your retina, causing them to swell or leak and blur your vision. If the disease goes untreated, these blood vessels may become blocked, depriving the retina of its blood supply. New blood vessels may develop, however, they are often fragile and their thin walls may leak blood. This usually occurs at the most advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy and is called proliferated retinopathy, which may result in severe vision loss or even blindness. Fluid may also leak into the macula causing it to swell and blur your vision. This condition is known as macular edema and usually occurs as the disease progresses, but it may occur earlier.
As with any change in your vision, if you notice blurred vision, a speck of blood or new spots in your vision, it is important to contact your ophthalmologist immediately. The sooner you identify changes in your vision, the greater your chances are for effective treatment of any disease or condition.
Can it be treated?
The good news is that early detection and advancements in treatments can help reduce or avoid vision loss caused by diabetes. There are different treatments for different conditions. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, the progression of vision loss is usually managed by decreasing your blood sugar levels, as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. Laser surgery is used to treat macular edema and proliferative retinopathy. When treating macular edema, laser surgery helps reduce the leakage of fluid and excess fluid in the retina. The procedure for proliferative retinopathy is called scatter laser treatment, which shrinks the abnormal, newly formed blood vessels. This procedure is most effective when used before these new blood vessels begin to leak. Multiple laser treatments may be needed in either case.
If you have an excessive amount of blood in the center of your eye which is filled with vitreous gel, you may need to have a vitrectomy. This procedure removes the vitreous gel that is clouded by blood and replaces it with a salt solution. Your vision should improve and you will not feel any difference with the salt solution. Most patients return home the day of their vitrectomy, but some may need to stay overnight. To protect your eye from infection, you will wear an eye patch for a few days or possibly a couple of weeks. Medicated drops will also be prescribed to prevent infection.
Again, the key to preventing loss of vision is early detection. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, it is essential to schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist.
Call us today to schedule your eye exam at 1-877 DR4 2020 or click here to book your appointment online.
(*) Reference: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, NIH Publication No: 06-2171, Diabetic Retinopathy, What you should know, © 2003.