What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

The only cause of this non inflammatory degenerative disease is diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a non inflammatory degenerative disease that eventually leads to distorted blurry vision and possibly blindness.  It develops  when blood vessels in inside the eye are weakened from having diabetes. These weakened vessels will cause fluid leakage into the retina area of the eye.  There may be a growth of distorted vessels and these will bleed.  These weakened distorted vessels can cause severe damage to the retina, which causes vision loss as the disease progresses.
 
What are the causes?

The only cause of this non inflammatory degenerative disease is diabetes.   A diabetics blood vessels will gradually weaken throughout the the body, to include the eyes.  Smoking, elevated blood pressure and pregnancy can combine to worsen retinopathy. 
 
The Hidden Symtoms

You can be totally unaware of having diabetic retinopathy   Most of the time Pain is not noticable there is no outward indicators.  Over time, there may be noticeable blurring or reduced vision.  Symptoms may suddenly appear and then go away.  Depending on the severity of the disease, there could be clouded vision or even blindness.
 
What can you Do?

Having eye exams regularly will assist your doctor in detecting changes in your eyes prior to your vision being damaged.  There are steps you can take in preventing or controling diabetic retinopathy: These steps are; controling your diabetes, stop smoking, and controling high blood pressure.
 
Regular Eye Exams are a must

Have a normal annual eye exam or at other intervals suggested by your doctor.   The exam will include, the doctor gathering information concerning your health and medical history of family members.  This information will be used for a diabetic retinopathy risk assessment.  There will be the normal vision exam but your eyes will be dilated so that the retina can be viewed and photographed.
 
Retinopathy may be prevented or limited through diabetes control and controlling other factors that may put you at risk.  You must  follow the plan for treatment of your diabetes:

1. Follow assigned dietetic guidelines.

2. Exercise regularly.

3. Medicines must be taken as prescribed.

4. Monitor the levels of your blood sugar suggested by your physician.

5. If you are a smoker, you must stop.  Avoid excessive amounts of second hand smoke.  You must control your blood pressure, and smoking can cause an increase in your blood pressure.
 
Diabetic retinopathy treatment

The advancement of diabetic retinopathy may be slowed by treatment. In some cases lost vision can be restored. The severity of your condition will determine your treatment plan.  Frequent exams are required for monitoing your condition during laser treatment and otherrequired procedures.  Laser treatment may help limit loss of vision from diabetic retinopathy.
        
Vision Monitoring

Initially simply monitoring of your eye health by your doctor may be all that is needed. During your return visits with the doctor there may a need to  conduct an examination your retina.  There may be an angiogram of your blood vessels.  The special dye used in this test creates a detailed image of the retina.  Images of the retina will help your ophthalmologist decide if there is a need for special treatments.  If there are indications that your vision is deteriorating, consultation between you and your ophthalmologist will be the determining factor for surgery.
 
Types of Treatment

Stopping the bleeding is very important and special treatments is the first step. The treatments also retard the growth of new vessel and preserve vision.  Your condition determines your treatment.

Laser treatment is used to reduce vessel growth and stop leaks.

Repair of a damaged retina can be accomplished with surgery.

Surgical procedures can be used to remove the vitreous.  If blood has filled the vitreous and your vision becomes obscured the surgery will most likely help.
 
It's really Up to You

Diabetes control can be accomplished through proper diet, exercise, and medications.  This may be your first step in controlling diabetic retinopathy.  Also, the treatment of other negative health conditions will assist in the contorl of diabetes.  Having that eye exam annually or as directed by your doctor is very important.  If there is a noticable differance in your vision, don't hesitate to call your ophthalmologist right away.