Diabetic Retinopathy

How Does Diabetic Retinopathy Impact Your Anatomy and Health?

Diabetic retinopathy impacts the anatomy and health of the eye in several ways:

• Blood Vessel Damage: High blood sugar levels cause damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. These blood vessels can become leaky, accumulating fluid in the retina and surrounding areas.
• Retinal Swelling (Macular Oedema): Fluid buildup in the retina, particularly in the central area called the macula, can lead to macular oedema. The macula is responsible for sharp central vision, which is crucial for reading and recognising faces.
• Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth (Neovascularization): In response to the damage, the retina may attempt to grow new blood vessels. However, these new vessels are often fragile and can bleed into the eye, causing further vision problems and potentially forming scar tissue.
• Vision Loss: As diabetic retinopathy progresses, it can cause varying degrees of vision loss, ranging from mild blurriness to severe impairment. In advanced stages, it can lead to permanent blindness if not managed properly.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?

The early stages of the disease do not show any symptoms. For this reason, regular eye examinations are required to detect the development of these changes. 

As the severity of retinopathy progresses, it may become apparent to the patient. 

• Blurred vision
• Floaters - spots or dark shapes floating in your vision
• Nyctalopia or night blindness - lowered night vision 
• Temporary or permanent blindness.

Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy

Vision loss from Diabetic Retinopathy is usually preventable, provided it is diagnosed early and treated appropriately. 

The treatment of diabetic retinopathy depends on the stage and severity of the condition. Here are the main treatment options:

• Control of Diabetes and Other Health Factors: Managing diabetes effectively through lifestyle changes, medications, and insulin therapy is fundamental in preventing and managing diabetic retinopathy. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help slow the progression of the disease.
• Regular Eye Exams: Early detection is key. Regular eye exams by an ophthalmologist are essential for monitoring the progression of diabetic retinopathy and making informed treatment decisions.
• Macular Oedema Treatment:
• Intravitreal Injections: Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections are injected into the eye's vitreous gel to reduce swelling and leakage of blood vessels.
• Corticosteroid Injections: In some cases, corticosteroids may be injected into the eye to reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Laser Treatment:
• Focal/Grid Laser Treatment: This treatment targets specific areas of swelling and leakage in the macula to reduce swelling and improve vision.
• Panretinal Photocoagulation: This laser treatment is used for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. It aims to shrink abnormal blood vessels and reduce the risk of bleeding and scarring.
• Vitrectomy: A surgical procedure may be performed in cases of significant bleeding into the vitreous gel or retinal detachment. The vitreous gel is removed during this procedure, and the retina is treated or repaired as necessary.
• Medications and Anti-VEGF Therapy: Anti-VEGF medications are administered through intravitreal injections to block the effects of the vascular endothelial growth factor, which contributes to the growth of abnormal blood vessels.