Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes.It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. Usually affects both eyes. This disease is a leading cause of blindness.
Risk and Prevention
Anyone with diabetes is at risk and the longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Statistics show that between 40-45 percent of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.
Signs and Symptoms
There are often no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. There is no pain and vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Blurred vision may occur when the macula (the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision) swells due to leaking of fluid from diseased blood vessels. This condition is called macular edema. If abnormal new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye and lead to loss of vision. Even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a long way without symptoms. This symptomless progression is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important.
Treatments
Your ophthalmologist may suggest laser surgery in which a strong light beam is aimed onto the retina.
A recent advancement in treatment of diabetic retinopathy is an anti-VEGF injection into the eye.
This medication blocks the action of abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. Laser or regular injections can help to stop leakage from blood vessels into the retina and vision loss.
Treatment and appropriate follow up care can reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent.
