Diabetic Retinopathy

Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

What is Diabetic Retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. Over time, this can lead to serious vision problems.

Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy

1. Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR): Early stage where blood vessels in the retina begin to weaken.
2. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR): More advanced stage where new, abnormal blood vessels grow, which can bleed and cause vision loss.

Symptoms to Look Out For

• Blurry Vision: Difficulty seeing details clearly.
• Floaters: Spots or dark strings floating in your vision.
• Vision Loss: Partial or total, often occurring suddenly.
• Difficulty with Night Vision: Trouble seeing in low light.
• Changes in Color Perception: Colors appear faded or washed out.
• Note: In early stages, you might not notice any symptoms.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy? It’s directly related to uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetes. The longer you have diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the higher your risk of developing this condition.

Treatment Options

• Laser Treatment: To reduce swelling in the retina and stop leakage from blood vessels.
• Injections: Medications that slow or reverse the damage from diabetic retinopathy.
• Vitrectomy: Surgery to remove blood from the vitreous gel in the eye.

Prevention and Monitoring

• Controlling your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
• Regular eye exams, particularly if you have diabetes.
• Early detection through dilated eye exams can prevent up to 95% of vision loss cases.

Managing your diabetes is key to preventing or slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes and notice any changes in your vision, it’s important to see an eye specialist promptly.