Diabetic Retinopathy- A serious Complication of Diabetes

Posted by on Jul 13, 2009 in Diabetes

Diabetic Retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes type I and II. It is seen commonly in adults in long standing diabetes patients with improper controlling of blood glucose levels. Retinopathy is caused due to damage retinal blood vessels which swell and diffuse fluid into the vitreous humor of the eye. Consequently the vision is slowly impaired and if neglected the vision is completely lost leading to blindness. Long standing diabetic patients are at high risk to develop this complication. It is a progressive disease if diagnosed early the vision can be saved.

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

  • The symptoms are not visible in the early stages of the disease. They are cognizable only when the condition is severe. Hence regular check ups by a qualified ophthalmologist is essential to detect the changes of the retina.
  • Blurred vision
  • Sudden loss of vision develops due to the rupture of the retinal blood vessels.

Who are at high risk?

  • Long standing diabetic patients with improper life style and control of blood glucose levels are at higher risk.
  • Pregnant women suffering diabetes are also at a greater risk. Regular check up is needed.

How it is diagnosed?

Retinopathy can be diagnosed very accurately by examining the condition of the retina. This can be studied with an ophthalmoscope. Opthalmoscopy is a technique in which the internal parts of the eye are examined by the ophthalmologist. The pupils are dilated using eye drops. After proper dilatation a beam of light is passed into the eye and the ophthalmologist examines the retina, its blood vessels, head of the optic nerve and the vitreous humor the jelly like substance on the back of the eye. The condition and extent of damage is assessed. It is a simple and painless procedure.

The other method to study the condition of the retina is by means of Fluorescein angiography. In this procedure a dye is injected intravenously and series of photographs are taken while the drug is passing through the retinal blood vessels. When the blood vessels are damaged the dye is diffused into the retinal tissue. The extent of damage is studied through the photographs taken. The test is painless, however the skin and urine may become dark yellow temporarily till the entire drug is excreted.

What are the treatment options?

Diabetic retinopathy can be treated by laser surgery. Laser beams are projected into the eye with a specialized instrument and the over grown blood vessels are destroyed. The inner macular area is kept intact without causing any harm. Consequently burn marks appear on the outer retina. Though some outer vision is impaired with the marks total loss is prevented. Repeated treatments may be required if the condition recurs.

Can it be prevented?

Diabetic retinopathy can be prevented by regular checkups of the eye by a competent ophthalmologist. It helps to diagnose the condition early and treat before it goes to advanced stage.

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