After reading the information below, click here to learn more about POB’s programs for people with diabetic retinopathy.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels in the body can cause damage to blood vessels in the retina — a film in the back part of your eye that detects light and sends signals to the brain via the optic nerve. This damage can cause fluid leakage or bleeding. In addition, damaged blood vessels may lead to the development of abnormal growth of new blood vessels on the surface of the retina.
In the disease’s early stages, a person may not notice changes to his or her vision. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. A comprehensive dilated eye exam can catch the disease in its early stages and get you on the road to treatment to prevent or slow permanent vision loss.
What are the stages of Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy has four stages:
- Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy. At this stage, microaneurysms occur. These are small areas of balloon-like swelling in the retina’s tiny blood vessels.
- Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy. This stage is when blood vessels that nourish the retina are blocked. Hemorrhages also appear in the retina.
- Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy. In this stage, many more blood vessels are blocked, depriving several areas of the retina of their blood supply. The amount of hemorrhage in the retina also increases significantly.
- Proliferative Retinopathy. At this advanced stage, new and abnormal blood vessels grow on the retina’s surface. These new blood vessels are fragile and tend to bleed, filling the eye with vision-threatening hemorrhage. They can also turn into scar tissue, which contracts over time and causes the retina to detach, leading to blindness.
Symptoms
Early stages of diabetic retinopathy often don’t show any symptoms. You can only detect the disease in these early stages through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. As the disease progresses, you may find it more difficult to see during some activities like reading or driving, and these issues may come and go. In later stages, you may begin seeing dark, floating spots or “cobwebs” that could stay or clear up over time. It is very important to see your eye doctor anytime you experience visual symptoms. You may need prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision problems.
Risk Factors:
- Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2
- The longer you have diabetes, the higher your risk. The risk is especially significant in those with uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Two in five Americans with diabetes have some stage of the disease.
- Women with diabetes who become pregnant or who develop gestational diabetes are at higher risk. Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam if this is you.
Treatments:
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, there is no treatment except preventive strategies and close monitoring by your eye doctor. Regular comprehensive dilated eye exams will help monitor or catch early signs of the disease.
Other prevention methods:
- Control your blood sugar levels and manage your diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy diet and get regular physical activity.
- Maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
In later stages, there are a few treatment options:
- Injections. Anti-VEGF drugs, such as those used in age-related macular degeneration, can help reverse or slow the leakage of the blood vessels and growth of abnormal blood vessels.
- Laser Treatments. Your eye doctor may use lasers to shrink or stop leakage of blood vessels and to control the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
- Surgery. A vitrectomy can help doctors find and repair sources of bleeding in the retina, clear bleeding from inside the eye, and repair detached retina.
Conditions Resulting from Diabetic Retinopathy:
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Many individuals with diabetic retinopathy will develop DME over time. Blood vessels in the retina leak fluid, causing swelling in the macula and blurry vision. This is the most common cause of visual loss among people with diabetic retinopathy.
- Retinal Detachment. Diabetic retinopathy can cause scarring of the retina, which can cause the retina to pull away from the back of the eye.
- Neovascular Glaucoma. Abnormal blood vessel growth is possible in diabetic retinopathy, which can block the fluid draining system of the eye, causing glaucoma.
