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Diabetic Retinopathy |
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Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes that damages the eye's retina. It affects half of all Americans diagnosed with diabetes and all individuals with diabetes are at risk.
How does diabetic retinopathy damage the retina?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. At first most people do not notice any changes in their vision. This is why it’s important for all diabetics to have a yearly dilated eye exam even if they haven’t noticed any vision problems.
Some people develop a condition called macular edema. It occurs when the damaged blood vessels leak fluid and lipids onto the macula, the part of the retina that lets us see detail. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision.
As the disease progresses, it enters its advanced, or proliferative, stage. Fragile, new blood vessels grow along the retina and in the clear, gel-like vitreous that fills the inside of the eye. Without timely treatment, these new blood vessels can bleed, cloud vision, and destroy the retina.
How is it treated?
There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy. They are very effective in reducing vision loss from this disease. In fact, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent chance of keeping their vision when they get treatment before the retina is severely damaged.
These two treatments are laser surgery and vitrectomy. It is important to note that although these treatments are very successful, they do not cure diabetic retinopathy.
What can you do to protect your vision?
All people with diabetes should have an eye examination through dilated pupils at least once a year. If you have more serious retinopathy, you may need to have a dilated eye examination more often.
Better control of blood sugar levels slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy. |
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