About Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels at the back of the eye, is caused by uncontrolled diabetes. People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are susceptible to the condition. The earlier your develop diabetes, the more likely you are to get diabetic retinopathy.

Symptoms:

Diabetic retinopathy has no symptoms in the beginning stages. Once the condition worsens, symptoms such as floaters, blurry vision, bad night vision, eye pain, streaks or red film that blocks vision and loss of vision will occur. Both eyes are usually affected by diabetic retinopathy.

Cause:

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetics cause the lens of the eye to swell over time. This leads to blurry vision. Later on, high blood sugar levels damage capillaries the provide nourishment to the eye, causing diabetic retinopathy.

Classification:

There are two classifications for diabetic retinopathy: early and advanced.

Early or nonproliferative retinopathy is the most common kind. Within this classification are mild, moderate and severe forms. NPDR causes blood vessel walls in the retina to weaken. This leads to bulges called microaneurysms that leak blood and fluid into the retina. Over time, small blood vessels can close off and large veins dilate and develop irregular shapes. Nerve fibers and the central part of the retina, or macula, begin to swell, causing macular edema.

Advanced or proliferative retinopathy is the worst type of retinopathy. Abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina and new blood vessels can grow in the vitreous, or center of the eye. Over time, scar tissue forms because of the new blood vessels and causes the retina to detach from the back of the eye. When new blood vessels impede flow of fluid out of the eye, pressure builds up and damages the optic nerve.

Contributing Factors:

All diabetics with uncontrolled blood sugar levels are susceptible to diabetic retinopathy. Smoking, pregnancy, high blood pressure and high cholesterol also put people at higher risk of developing the condition. Ethnicity also increases the risk of getting diabetic retinopathy. Blacks and Hispanics are at greater risk than other groups.

Treatment Options:

Nonproliferative retinopathy is usually watched closely, and laser treatment only initiated once it reaches the severe stage.

Proliferative retinopathy is treated with laser surgery or vitrectomy, a procedure that removes blood and scar tissue from the center of the eye.

Prevention:

Control blood sugar numbers, reduce stress to help blood pressure, eat a healthy diet and exercise to help diabetes and cholesterol, and stop smoking to reduce the chances of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Reference:

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetic-retinopathy/DS00447