Diabetic Eye Care / Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes can affect eyesight and if you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use or store sugar properly. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the back of your eye that senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The damage to retinal vessels is referred to as diabetic retinopathy.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy:

• Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)
• Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)

NPDR is commonly known as background retinopathy and is an early stage of diabetic retinopathy. In this stage, tiny blood vessels within the retina leak blood or fluid. The leaking fluid causes the retina to swell or to form deposits called exudates.

Many people with diabetes have mild NPDR, which usually does not affect their vision. When vision is affected it is a result of macular edema and/or macular ischemia. Macular edema is swelling or thickening of the macula (small area in the center of the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly). The swelling is caused by fluid leaking from retinal blood vessels. It is the most common cause of visual loss in diabetes and it may be mild to severe. Even with mild cases, however, the peripheral vision continues to function. Macular Ischemia occurs when small vessels close. Vision blurs because the macula no longer receives sufficient blood supply to work properly.

PDR is present when abnormal new vessels (neovascularization) begin growing on the surface of the retina or optic nerve. The main cause of PDR is widespread closure of retinal blood vessels, preventing adequate blood flow. The retina responds by growing new blood vessels in an attempt to supply blood to the area where original vessels closed.

The new vessels are normally accompanied by scar tissue that may cause wrinkling or detachment of the retina. PDR may cause more severe visual loss than NPDR and affects both central and peripheral vision.

Your risk of vision loss is minimal when problems are detected at an early stage and patients maintain strict control of their blood sugar. Regular visits to your ophthalmologist are extremely important.

There are various forms of treatment depending on the severity and extent of the patient's diabetic eye condition. Our retinal specialist can help you understand these conditions and decide on possible plans of treatment.

Call us for more information or to schedule an appointment!

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