Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially serious compilation of diabetes. Increased blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels inside your eyes, which can cause vision loss.
The condition is manageable with proper care. Your eye doctor can identify signs of diabetic retinopathy and help you prevent damage to your vision.
Keep reading to learn more about what diabetic retinopathy is and what treatments are available to help.
About Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina. The retina is a structure at the rear of the eye that sends information to the brain via the optic nerve.
Many tiny blood vessels within the retina are vital to both your vision and your eye’s overall health. Excess blood sugar can cause damage to those blood vessels, causing them to leak.
This can lead to a buildup of fluid in your eye that raises your intraocular pressure. If the damage continues, the vessels may develop scar tissue and become sealed off, preventing normal blood flow.
New blood vessels may grow to replace the damaged ones, but they are often misshapen and prone to further damage from high blood sugar. When you first develop diabetic retinopathy, you may not realize it’s happening.
It doesn’t cause discomfort or change your vision right away. If the condition progresses to the more severe stages, you may notice vision changes such as:
- Floaters that look like spots or dark strings in your vision
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Dark or blank spots in your vision
- Vision loss
Who Is at Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy?
Anyone who has diabetes, including type 1, type 2, or gestational, can develop diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the greater risk that you will experience the effects of diabetic retinopathy.
Your risk may also be higher if you have diabetes and you:
- Are pregnant
- Have high cholesterol or blood sugar
- Have hypertension
Everyone with diabetes should get screened for diabetic retinopathy at least once a year. Screening is non-invasive and doesn’t cause any discomfort.
To look for signs of diabetic retinopathy, your eye doctor at Metro Eye Care will conduct a dilated eye exam. By giving you eye drops to fully open your pupil, they can then look inside your eye and identify any indicators of diabetic retinopathy.
Detecting the condition early can prevent diabetic retinopathy from causing irreversible vision loss, which is why it is crucial to stay up-to-date on your eye exams if you have diabetes.
How is Diabetic Retinopathy Managed?
You may be able to prevent damage from diabetic retinopathy by carefully managing your blood sugar levels. You should work with your primary care provider and/or endocrinologist to develop a treatment plan that works best for you.
Your eye doctor may suggest treatment to protect your vision, depending on how far the condition has progressed. Treatment options may include:
Medication
Injections of anti-VEGF drugs or corticosteroids can slow down or reverse the effects of diabetic retinopathy. They do so by reducing macular swelling and slowing the development of abnormal blood vessels.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatments can shrink enlarged blood vessels, reduce leakage, and prevent increases in eye pressure. If you have swelling in the central retina or macular edema, your eye doctor may recommend treatment with a focal laser to dry the excess fluid in the eye.
They may also recommend laser photocoagulation or pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) to remove abnormal blood vessels in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary to address significant retinal bleeding or scarring. Your eye doctor may recommend a procedure called a vitrectomy to remove scar tissue and drain fluids from inside the eye.
If you are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, you should visit your eye doctor regularly. Schedule an appointment at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ, today to protect the health of your eyes!
