Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the eye's retina that occurs with long-term Diabetes.
See also:
Alternative NamesRetinopathy - diabetic; Photocoagulation - retina
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsDiabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.
There are two types, or stages of retinopathy: Nonproliferative or proliferative
Other problems that may develop are:
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans. People with both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition.
Having more severe diabetes for a longer period of time increases the chance of getting retinopathy. Retinopathy is also more likely to occur earlier and be more severe if your diabetes has been poorly controlled. Almost everyone who has had diabetes for more than 30 years will show signs of diabetic retinopathy.
SymptomsMost often, diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms until the damage to your eyes is severe.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before major bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams.
Signs and testsIn nearly all cases, the health care provider can diagnose diabetic retinopathy by dilating the pupils with eye drops and then carefully examining the retina. A retinal photography or fluorescein angiography test may also be used.
TreatmentThe following are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy:
People with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. However, they should be closely followed-up by an eye doctor trained to treat diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment usually does not reverse damage that has already occurred, but it can help keep the disease from getting worse. Once your eye doctor notices new blood vessels growing in your retina (neovascularization) or you develop macular edema, treatment is usually needed.
Several procedures or surgeries are the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
Laser eye surgery creates small burns in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. This process is called photocoagulation. It is used to keep vessels from leaking or to get rid of abnormal, fragile vessels.
A surgical procedure called vitrectomy is used when there is bleeding (hemorrhage) into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment.
Drugs that prevent abnormal blood vessels from growing, and corticosteroids injected into the eyeball are being investigated as new treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
If you cannot see well:
See also:
Support GroupsAmerican Diabetes Association - www.diabetes.org
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
Prevent Blindness America - www.preventblindness.org
Expectations (prognosis)You can improve your outcome by keeping good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure.
Both treatments are effective at reducing vision loss. They do not cure diabetic retinopathy or reverse the changes that have already occurred.
Once proliferative retinopathy occurs, there is always a risk for bleeding. You will need ongoing monitoring, and you may need more treatment.
ComplicationsCall for an appointment with an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) if you have diabetesand you have not seen an ophthalmologist in the past year.
Call your doctor if any of the following symptoms are new or are becoming worse:
Tight control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol is very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy.
Do not smoke. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor or nurse.
You may not know there is any damage to your eyes until the problem is very bad. Your doctor can catch problems early if you get regular exams. You will need to see an eye Doctor Who is trained to treat diabetic retinopathy.
Begin having eye examinations as follows by an eye doctor skilled in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy:
If you are beginning a new exercise program or are planning to get pregnant, have your eyes examined. Avoid resistance or high-impact exercises, which can strain already weakened blood vessels in the eyes.
If you are at low risk, you may need follow-up exams only every 2 - 3 years. The eye exam should include dilation to check for signs of retinal disease (retinopathy).
ReferencesAmerican Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes--2010. Diabetes Care. 2010 Jan;33 Suppl 1:S11-61.
O'Doherty M, Dooley I, Hickey-Dwyer M. Interventions for diabetic macular oedema: a systematic review of the literature. Br J Opthalmol. 2008;92:1581-1590.
Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net), Beck RW, Edwards AR, Aiello LP, Bressler NM, Ferris F, Glassman AR, et al. Three-year follow-up of a randomized trial comparing focal/grid photocoagulation and intravitreal triamcinolone for diabetic macular edema. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127:245-251.
Diabetics are susceptible to damage of the blood vessels in the retina. This is known as diabetic retinopathy.
In diabetic retinopathy, the retinopathy is the manifestation.
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye.
diabetic retinopathy is the completion
If you have had diabetes for an extended period of time then you may want to get checked for diabetic retinopathy. It is a condition that diabetics can suffer from after having diabetes for a long time.
No. However both ulcers and retinopathy are late manifestations of Diabetes Millitus.
You can learn anything you need to know about Diabetic Retinopathy, such as the symptoms and the cures and more if you check out this website. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy.asp
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the result of complications of diabetes and can result in blindness if left untreated. Your doctor is the best resource in learning about diabetic retinopathy He will explain everything you need to know in detail. If more information is needed there are books available for reading at your local library.
sight threatening diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is different from any other type because it is the only one that is caused by diabetes. It is progressive, can lead to blindness and affects 80% of diabetes patients that have had the disease for over 10 years.
You can find out more about diabetic retinopathy on the website webmd.com. The website is designed to answer many medical questions and help solve any health issues you may have.