Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy
Our eyes might be the windows to our soul, but they can also be windows into the condition of our health. An ophthalmologist can tell a lot about our overall health from the condition of our eyes, including if we have diabetes, even if a doctor hasn't yet diagnosed it.
That's because diabetes can affect our eyes, a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that, according to the National Institutes of Health, occurs in 40 to 50% of all people who have type I or II diabetes.
What is Retinopathy?
Retinopathy affects the blood vessels of the eye's retina. The retina, a thin layer of tissue that lines the inside of the back of the eye, gathers and processes light from the front of the eye and sends the collected signals to the brain.Damage to this all-important part of the eyeball can lead to blindness. In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels of the retina change, leading to vision loss or blindness. Sometimes new, abnormal blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. Other times, the blood vessels of the retina swell and leak fluid. The condition usually occurs in both eyes.
Retinopathy is a degenerative disease if not properly managed.
What are the Symptoms of Retinopathy?
The earliest stages of diabetic retinopathy are usually asymptomatic– you won't know you have it, since there are no symptoms and no associated pain.As the condition progresses, however, it may cause blurred vision, which occurs as part of the retina called the macula swells from leaking fluid. The blurred vision may go away on its own, but it doesn't mean that diabetic retinopathy is gone. It's still there. If you experience blurred vision, you should make an appointment with a board certified ophthalmologist, even if your symptoms reside.
Advanced retinopathy can cause spots to float in your vision, as well as blurred vision. If left untreated, retinopathy will cause blindness.
How Can I Prevent Retinopathy?
The NCI reports that one way people with diabetes can work to prevent the onset of retinopathy is to maintain blood sugar levels that are as close to normal as possible. In addition to keeping better control of blood sugar levels, everyone with type I or II diabetes should visit their ophthalmologist annually for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.Your ophthalmologist will monitor your eye health and be able to take swift action, should you require treatment for your diabetic retinopathy.
How is Retinopathy Treated?
While there is no way to treat early diabetic retinopathy other than through the control of blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels; advanced stages of retinopathy are treated with different types of laser surgery, depending on your stage of retinopathy. While these procedures stop the progression of vision loss, they do not cure retinopathy and you may need more treatments in the future.Again, the best way to prevent and effectively treat diabetic retinopathy depends on effectively managing your diabetes and seeing your ophthalmologist once a year for a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Your eyesight depends on it. Contact a board certified ophthalmologist in your area if you have diabetes and are experiencing symptoms of diabetic retinopathy or if you want to schedule an annual eye exam.
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