Diabetic Retinopathy

Everyone who has diabetes is at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, but not all diabetics to develop it. In its early stages, person may not notice any change in the vision, but it can lead to the later, sight-threatening form of the disease. Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma but the disease’s affect on the retina is the main threat to vision.

Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy

Most patients develop diabetic changes in the retina after approximately 20 years. The effect of diabetes on the eye is called Diabetic retinopathy. Overtime, the diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina.

The earliest phase of the disease is known as background diabetic retinopathy. In this phase, the arteries in the retina become weakened and leak, forming small, dot-like hemorrhages. These leaks vessels lead to swelling or oedema in the retina and decreased vision.

The next stage is known as Proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this stage, the circulation problems cause areas of the retina to become oxygen deprived or ischemic.

New, fragile vessels develop as the circulatory system attempts to maintain adequate oxygen levels within the retina. This is called neovascularization. Unfortunately, these delicate vessels hemorrhage easily. Blood may leak into the retina and vitreous, along with decreased vision. In the later phases of the diseases, continued abnormal vessel growth and scar tissue growth and scar tissue may cause serious problems such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.

The affect of Diabetic retinopathy on vision varies widely, depending on the stage of the disease. Some common symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are like floaters and flashes.

Sometimes difficult in reading o doing close work can indicate that the fluid is collecting in the macula, the most light-sensitive part of the retina. This fluid build up is called macular edema. Another sign is double vision, which occurs when the nerves controlling the eye muscles are affected.

The body gradually replaces lost vitreous humour and vision usually improves. Diabetic patients who are able to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels have fewer eye problems than those with poor control. Diet and exercise play important role in this overall health of those with diabetes. Diabetics can also greatly reduce the possibilities of eye complication by getting routine examination by ophthalmologist.