Diabetic Retinopathy

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Regular exams and monitoring of your eyes helps to prevent diabetic retinopathy

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People with diabetes are at a heightened risk for a number of related health problems, including problems affecting the health of the eyes and vision. At first, diabetic retinopathy may be asymptomatic or cause insignificant changes in vision. However, over time it can rob a person of their sight. For this reason, diabetics are strongly advised to see an ophthalmologist regularly to monitor their eye health.

UNDERSTANDING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that compromises the health of the eyes and visual acuity. Dangerously high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that nourish the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. The central area of the retina, called the macula, is designed for high acuity vision. It is what enables a person to read, recognize a face or perform tasks like sewing or using a smartphone. The area surrounding the macula is responsible for clear peripheral vision.

The complications of diabetic retinopathy can cause the blood vessels to swell, leak fluid, or close, and abnormal new blood vessels can develop. If diabetic retinopathy goes unnoticed and untreated, it can eventually lead to irreversible vision loss and even blindness.

TYPES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy: early and advanced. In the early form, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken and can leak blood and fluid into the retina. The macula can begin to swell. In the advanced form of diabetic retinopathy, the damaged blood vessels close and cause the growth of new irregular blood vessels that leak into the vitreous (clear gel that fills the center of the eye). If the disease continues to progress without treatment, the retina may start to detach, or intraocular pressure can grow, leading to glaucoma.

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Diabetic retinopathy normally affects both eyes.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include the following:

Floaters (spots or strings that appear to drift in front of the eyes)
Blurry, spotty, or hazy vision
Dark or empty spots
Loss of vision

Call your eye specialist or Fraser Valley Cataract and Laser if you are experiencing these symptoms.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EXAM

People with diabetes are encouraged to work closely with an eye doctor to monitor their condition. Regular diabetic retinal exams are an opportunity for the doctor to take a closer look at the eyes, note any changes, and track their progression.

During an exam, special drops are placed in the eyes to dilate the pupils. This enables the ophthalmologist to get a closer look at the inside of the eyes. The doctor will look for leaking blood vessels, abnormal new blood vessels, scar tissue, signs of retinal detachment, and any damage to the optic nerve.

Your eye specialist may perform additional testing to identify any blood vessels that are closed, leaking, or broken down. Another exam may be performed to capture cross-sectional images of the retina and determine whether fluid has leaked into the retinal tissue.

In addition to these tests, the ophthalmologist may perform vision tests, measure the intraocular pressure for glaucoma, and look for signs of cataracts.

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TREATMENT OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

The primary treatment of diabetic retinopathy is to maintain good sugar levels and good blood pressure. Depending on the damage, the doctor may also recommend laser treatment.

Contact Fraser Valley Cataract & Laser

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and would like to schedule a retinal exam with our eye doctors, please contact us today.

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