What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetes myelitis is a condition which impairs the body's ability to use and store sugar. Elevated blood sugar levels, excessive thirst with an increase in urine excretion, and changes in the body's blood vessels are all characteristic of the disease. Diabetes may cause serious changes in the eyes as well. Conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, occasional blurring, and most importantly, changes in the blood vessels at the back of the eye all may affect sight.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. It is caused by the deterioration of the blood vessels nourishing the retina at the back of the eye. These weakened blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, develop fragile brushlike branches, and become enlarged in certain places.

The retina is the part of the eye where light filtering through the lens is focused. The focused light or images are then carried to the brain by the optic nerve. When leaking blood or fluid damages the retina, the image sent to the brain becomes blurred.

The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is high for people who have had diabetes for a long time. About 60% of those having diabetes for 15 years or more have some blood vessel damage in their eyes. When diabetes develops in childhood or teenage years, it is known as juvenile diabetes. Juvenile diabetics are particularly likely to develop diabetic retinopathy at an early age. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness among adults in the United States, and people with diabetes are said to be 25 times more prone to blindness than the general population.

The cause of diabetic retinopathy is not completely understood; however, it is known that diabetes weakens small blood vessels in various areas of the body. Pregnancy and high blood pressure may worsen this condition in people with diabetes.

Through gradual or rapid blurring of vision may occur, sight is unaffected in most patients with retinopathy, and gradual changes in the eye can go unnoticed unless detected by your eye doctor.

A comprehensive eye examination is the best protection against the progression of diabetic retinopathy. People with diabetes should be aware of the risks of developing sight disturbances and should have their eyes examined regularly.

To detect diabetic retinopathy, your Premier Vision doctor painlessly examines the interior of the eye using an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. If diabetic retinopathy is noted, a second method of examination, called "Fluorescein Angiography" may be used by the doctor to see which blood vessels are bleeding or leaking fluid.

When diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed, we consider your age, history, lifestyle, and the degree of damage to the retina before deciding whether treatment or monitoring of the disease is most appropriate. In most cases, treatment is recommended to halt the damage of diabetic retinopathy.

The argon laser has revolutionized retinopathy surgical care. By using high energy light waves, your ophthalmologist can use this laser to precisely stop bleeding of ruptured blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes.

Early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best protection against sight loss. Even when symptoms are not noticed, people with diabetes should schedule eye examinations at least once a year. Eye examinations should be scheduled more frequently after diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed. In most cases, with careful monitoring, we can begin treatment before sight is affected.

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