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Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults. It is estimated that 90% of diabetics may experience some form of retinopathy over the course of their life. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases with age and duration of the disease.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus which causes abnormalities in retinal capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. These vessels weaken, leak fluid and blood, and fail to provide nutrients to the retina. Left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.
Background Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy can take two forms, early on it manifests as background retinopathy, but it can progress to a more severe form of proliferative retinopathy. During the early background stage, small capillary blood vessels can leak fluid or blood into the surrounding retina. Vessels may also hemorrhage or leak fat and protein forming deposits. If fluid collects in the central retina (the macula), this may cause blurred vision; however, if it occurs in the outer areas of the retina no symptoms may be noticed at all until significant damage accumulates.
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
In some cases background retinopathy may progress to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this stage, abnormal blood vessels grow over the retina. These new vessels tend to bleed easily, blocking light from reaching the retina and causing severe vision loss. They also may contract, pulling the retina off its underlying structures causing retinal detachments. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy affects up to 5% of diabetics, and if left untreated may lead to permanent blindness.
How is diabetic retinopathy diagnosed?
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best protection against diabetic retinopathy. Since early in the disease you may have no visual symptoms, it is important to have at least yearly eye exams where the eye is dilated and the retina examined by a qualified eye specialist.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
The most important treatment for diabetes is excellent blood sugar control. This will prevent many complications of diabetes including retinopathy from worsening. If diabetic retinopathy does develop, there are a number of sight saving laser and medical treatments available. At Atlantic Eye Institute we have the latest technology to detect and treat diabetic retinopathy. An on-site retinal specialist is available for diagnosis, management, and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Prevention is the best medicine
Early detection and management of diabetic retinopathy is critical to arrest or slow the most sight damaging stages of the disease. Even when no symptoms are noticed, diabetic patients should have at least a yearly dilated eye exam. If you are experiencing vision problems or have diabetes and have not seen an eye specialist recently, call us at Atlantic Eye Institute so we can schedule a full eye exam and come up with a personalized treatment plan.
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