Diabetic Retinopathy

Changes in blood-sugar levels increase your risk of diabetic retinopathy, as does long-term diabetes. Generally, diabetics don't develop diabetic retinopathy until they have had diabetes for at least 10 years, but it is not wise to wait that long to have an eye exam. As soon as you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you need to have a dilated eye exam on a yearly basis.

High blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the retina, and when they are damaged, they can leak fluid or bleed. This causes the retina to swell and form deposits. This is an early form of diabetic retinopathy called nonproliferative or background retinopathy.

In a later stage, called proliferative retinopathy, new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These new blood vessels can lead to serious vision problems because they can break and bleed into the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye. Proliferative retinopathy is a much more serious form of the disease and can lead to blindness.

  • Fortunately, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by using common sense and taking good care of yourself.
  • Keep your blood sugar under good control.
  • Monitor your blood pressure and keep it under good control, or seek appropriate care.
  • Maintain a healthy diet.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions to the letter.

Diabetes also affects the vessels in the kidneys and feet and can cause kidney failure and peripheral neuropathy. Let you doctor know if you are experiencing any difficulties with your kidneys or feet as this may be an indicator of the severity of your diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy:

  • there are usually no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy
  • floaters
  • difficulty reading or doing close work
  • double vision
  • if left untreated, severe vision loss can occur

Causes of diabetic retinopathy:

Diabetes. Everyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not everyone develops it. Changes in blood sugar levels increase the risk. Generally, diabetics don't develop diabetic retinopathy until they've had diabetes for at least 10 years.

You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by:

  • keeping your blood sugar under control.
  • monitoring your blood pressure.
  • maintaining a healthy diet.
  • exercising regularly.
  • getting an eye exam at least once a year.

Diagnosing diabetic retinopathy:

There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. An exam is often the only way to diagnose changes in the vessels of your eyes. This is why regular examinations for people with diabetes are extremely important.

If your eye doctor is concerned about the progression of the diabetic retinopathy you may need a test called fluorescein angiography. During the test, a harmless orange-red dye called Fluorescein will be injected into a vein in your arm. The dye will travel through your body to the blood vessels in your retina. Your doctor will use a special camera with a green filter to flash a blue light into your eye and take multiple photographs. The pictures will be analyzed to identify any damage to the lining of the retina or atypical new blood vessels.

Treatment for diabetic retinopathy:

Diabetic retinopathy does not usually impair sight until the development of long-term complications, including proliferative retinopathy (when abnormal new blood vessels bleed into the eye). When this advanced stage of retinopathy occurs, pan-retinal photocoagulation is performed. During this procedure, a laser is used to destroy all of the dead areas of retina where blood vessels have been closed. When these areas are treated with the laser, the retina stops manufacturing new blood vessels, and those that are already present tend to decrease or disappear. The new vessels can also grow over the surface of the iris and cause neovascular glaucoma.

If the diabetes has contributed to cataract formation, they can be removed with cataract surgery.