All Diabetics, beware to handle this disease with care as 'Diabetic Retinopathy' is caused by damage to the retina of the eye. Once, this condition is common in people with chronic diabetes, you have to be more cautious in caring your eyes. We have provided some helpful information on diabetic retinopathy to avoid any hassles in health further. Have a look and follow us.
Diabetic retinopathy is a group of eye problems, which mainly affects diabetics. It is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Diabetes is caused by increased levels of blood sugar, called as hyperglycemia. Diabetes results from insufficient production of insulin hormone by the pancreas or reduced capacity of the body to use insulin. Diabetes can give rise to serious complications such as nerve damage, renal failure, heart and blood vessel diseases, foot problems and eye problems.
Diabetic people are at higher risk of developing certain eye problems such as cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common complications of diabetes, which usually occurs in people with chronic diabetes. It occurs due to damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissues in the retina. It may happen in people with type-1 diabetes or type-2 diabetes. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, there may be swelling of blood vessels and excretion of the fluid. In other cases, there may be a growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. Diabetic retinopathy initially causes abnormality in vision, and if left untreated, it can lead to vision loss. The National Eye Institute has reported that about 45% of diabetic adults in the United States suffer from some degree of diabetic retinopathy. It is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
There are two major types of diabetes retinopathy: non-proliferative and proliferative. Non-proliferative retinopathy is the early and mild form of the disease, which can cause blurred vision. Proliferative retinopathy is considered as the advanced and more severe stage of the disease. It may result in vision loss and scarring of the retina.
Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is classified into four stages depending upon severity of the condition. Mild non-proliferative retinopathy is the earliest stage of the disease. It causes small areas of balloon-like swelling (microaneurysms) in the blood vessels of the retina. In case of moderate non-proliferative retinopathy, some of the blood vessels in the retina are blocked. In severe non-proliferative retinopathy, blood supply to the retina is decreased due to blockage of most blood vessels. In the last stage, proliferative retinopathy, the growth of new blood vessels is triggered along the retina for the nourishment of the retina. Since these new blood vessels are fragile and abnormal, they may break and cause bleeding in the retina, resulting in haemorrhages. Proteins may leak from the blood vessels, leading to swelling of the retina (edema), which can cause vision loss and blindness.
Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy
People with severe diabetes for a longer period of time are at greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Poor control on diabetes, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and smoking are the risk factors for diabetic neuropathy. Pregnant women with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
Many a times, no symptoms are experienced in the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. In the advanced stage of the disease, you may notice the symptoms such as spots floating, dark streaks or a red film that block the vision, shadows or missing areas of vision, blurred vision, poor night vision and vision loss. The abnormal growth of new blood vessels can give rise to some serious complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, glaucoma and blindness. Generally, both eyes are affected by diabetic retinopathy.
Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy
When you notice the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy, you should immediately consult an eye-specialist doctor. The eye-specialist carries out a dilated eye exam for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. This test is performed by dilating the pupils using eye drops and then examining the retina. The doctor examines for the abnormal blood vessels, growth of new blood vessels and scar tissues, damage to the nerve tissues, swelling, bleeding or fatty deposits in the retina, bleeding in vitreous (clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of the eye) and retinal detachment. Some other tests such as retinal photography, also called fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are also suggested for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is decided depending upon the type and severity of the condition. Damage to the retina that has already occurred can’t be reversed with any kind of treatment. The treatment is aimed at preventing the disease from getting worse and stopping further damage. Generally, no treatment is required for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, laser treatment can be administered if necessary.
In case of advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a prompt surgical treatment may be required. There are various treatment options such as focal laser treatment, scatter laser treatment and vitrectomy. Surgical option helps to slow or stop the progression of the disease. But, keep in mind that it is not a cure. Since diabetes is a long-lasting condition and there is no cure for diabetes, there is a possibility of further retinal damage and vision loss in diabetic people. Therefore, you should opt for regular eye check-up even after the treatment.
The only way to prevent diabetic retinopathy is to keep your diabetes under control. You should opt for appropriate diabetic diet, regular exercises and diabetes medications to control diabetes. Monitor and maintain your blood sugar levels with the help of blood glucose tests on a regular basis. Also keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control by having nutritious diet and regular exercising. If you notice slight changes in your vision, immediately consult the eye-specialist.
Have a watchful approach towards diabetes treatment and management in order to promote healthy vision. Take good care of your eyes; they are precious!
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