DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease, referring to the damage of small blood vessels in your retina, the back part of eye. Diabetes also increases your risk of having glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye problems. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. Diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe.
There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy:
Nonproliferative develops first
Proliferative is more advanced and severe
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Most often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe.
Blurred vision or slow vision loss over time
Floaters
Shadows or missing areas of vision
Problem seeing at night
CAUSES
The major causes of diabetic retinopathy are:
Suffering from diabetes for a longer period of time
Improper management of diabetes
Cataracts
Glaucoma
TREATMENT
Laser surgery is used to prevent a bleed in the eye and it also helps in reducing the edema. However, it is not found successful in restoring vision lost due to the retinal damage. To avoid this, laser surgery should be appropriately timed.
Periocular or Intraocular injection of steroids can also help reduce swelling of the retina (macular oedema).
Advanced cases with non-resolving bleed in the eye or retinal detachment require advanced microsurgery. Today with highly advanced technology, good visual results can be achieved in a large number of advanced cases also.
