What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication affecting the eyes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina - the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR)
- Early stage of the disease
- Blood vessels in the retina weaken
- Small bulges (microaneurysms) may develop
- May experience mild vision problems
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR)
- Advanced stage of the disease
- New, abnormal blood vessels grow
- Can lead to serious vision problems
- Higher risk of retinal detachment
Symptoms
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Colors appearing faded
- Vision loss
Risk Factors
- Duration of diabetes
- Poor blood sugar control
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Pregnancy
- Tobacco use
Diagnosis
- Comprehensive dilated eye exam
- Visual acuity test
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
- Fluorescein angiography
Treatment Options
Medical Treatments
- Laser treatment (photocoagulation)
- Anti-VEGF injections
- Vitrectomy surgery
Prevention and Management
- Regular blood sugar monitoring
- Blood pressure control
- Regular eye examinations
- Healthy lifestyle choices
Complications
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Vision loss or blindness
Living with Diabetic Retinopathy
- Regular medical follow-up
- Diabetes management
- Vision rehabilitation if needed
- Support groups and resources
When to Seek Medical Attention
- Sudden vision changes
- Eye pain or redness
- Large number of floaters
- Dark spots in vision