Diabetic Retinopathy: What You Need to Know

While the main concern surrounding diabetes is high blood glucose, this chronic, complex disease can cause a variety of other issues for diabetics, such as blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy – a serious eye disease caused by diabetes – is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness, according to the American Diabetes Association.

If you or a loved one has diabetes, take the first step in eye care and learn about the link between diabetes and blindness. Get the facts on diabetic eye disease symptoms, prevention, and diabetic retinopathy treatment.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can cause a diabetic to lose their vision.

When the body experiences high blood sugar levels, tiny blood vessels in the retina – the eye’s light-sensitive lining – endure gradual damage that leads to:

Expanding, swelling, and leaking of blood or other fluid

or

Closing and desisting blood from passing though

Occasionally, diabetic retinopathy can cause new, atypical blood vessels to grow on the retina. When any of these conditions arise, a diabetic’s sight is imperiled, resulting in blurred or cloudy vision or blindness.

The Two Stages of Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic retinopathy encompasses two main stages:

1. NPDR (Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy)

NPDR is known as the early stage of diabetic eye disease, and it’s common for most diabetics to have it. NPDR causes one’s vision to become blurry.

As noted above, tiny blood vessels in the retina can leak, causing the retina and, more specifically, the macula to swell.

• The macula lives at the center of the retina and gives you the ability to clearly see the details of the objects in front of you.
• When the macula swells, macular edema sets in. Macular edema is the most common reason diabetics lose their ability to see.

When the blood vessels in the retina close off, macular ischemia emerges. With macular ischemia:

• Blood cannot flow to the macula.
• Small particles called exudates occasionally form in the retina, also affecting a diabetic’s vision.

2. PDR (Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy)

PDR is the advanced, severe stage of diabetic eye disease. This stage can claim a diabetic’s central and peripheral vision.

PDR occurs when new, abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina, called neovascularization.

• The new blood vessels are extremely delicate and can fracture easily and bleed into the vitreous – the clear gel-like substance that fills the middle of the eye.
• If they only slightly bleed, eye floaters can form – dark specks that float in one’s field of vision.
• If they bleed a lot, one’s vision may become blocked altogether.

The new blood vessels that grow in PDR can also form scar tissue and lead to issues with the macula or a detached retina.

Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention

There are ways to reduce the risk of losing the ability to see from diabetic retinopathy, such as:

• Maintaining appropriate blood sugar levels.
  When you eat right, exercise regularly, monitor your blood sugar levels frequently, and stay true to your insulin or medication schedule with type 2 diabetes, you can maintain optimal blood sugar levels and significantly reduce your risk of diabetic eye disease.
• Maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
  High blood pressure can cause macular edema and allow diabetic retinopathy to progress to PDR. A steady blood pressure that remains in one’s healthy target range can reduce the risk of diabetic eye disease, as well as other diabetic complications.
• Consulting an optometrist at the first sign of any vision changes.
  Floaters, new feelings of pain or pressure, instances of blurry or double vision, or vision loss can be signs of retina damage. It’s best to see an optometrist immediately to assess vision and treat or manage any conditions.
• Getting an annual eye exam by an optometrist.Making it a priority to see an optometrist annually can go a long way for a diabetic’s vision. Eye exams screen for diabetic retinopathy and other eye issues. While these screenings cannot prevent diabetic eye disease altogether, they can detect problems early and help prevent complete vision loss. Scheduling an exam every 12 months can also provide peace of mind that one’s eyes are safe from a blinding diabetic problem.
• Avoiding smoking.
  It has not been proven that smoking increases the risk of retinopathy, but smoking can deteriorate one’s health and can worsen other health issues diabetics face, such as disease of the small blood vessels.
• Refraining from intense physical activities.
  Increased pressure and impact through weight lifting and contact sports can cause bleeding in the eye. When diabetic retinopathy is already present, it’s best to avoid these activities so the condition does not damage one’s vision further.

Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms

There are typically no signs or symptoms of diabetic retinopathy in the early stage of the disease.

When diabetic eye disease progresses to the advanced stage – PDR – symptoms include:

• Floaters, or dark spots in the field of vision
• Flawed color vision
• Blurred vision
• Empty areas in your vision
• Vision loss

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Treatment for diabetic retinopathy varies according to the stage of the disease, with the objective to slow or stop the progression of the disease.

Early stage diabetic retinopathy treatment strategies:

• Important, regular monitoring with comprehensive eye exams
• Recommendations to maintain a healthy diet and exercise frequently to control blood sugar levels

Late stage diabetic retinopathy.

• Laser treatment can be effective at stopping blood and fluid from leaking into the retina.
• A pattern of scattered laser burns across the retina can be effective at shrinking and eliminating abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.

Early Diagnosis and Timely Treatment Starts with Regular Eye Exams

If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, blindness can occur. Complete diabetic health includes regular eye exams, and at I Care Vision, it’s our mission to help you take the best care of your eyes.

Learn about our effective treatment for serious eye diseases, or schedule an appointment today for your comprehensive eye exam.