Diabetic retinopathy is a complication arising from diabetes. It is caused by high blood sugar levels that damage the blood vessels on the light-sensitive layer (retina) at the back of your eye. These blood arteries may enlarge and leak when blood sugar levels are high. Additionally, they can shut down, preventing blood flow. On the retina, abnormally growing new blood vessels may form and may bleed into the eye's cavity. These changes can cause vision problems if left undiagnosed and untreated.
This represents the early stage of Diabetic Retinopathy. Your vision may or may not be impacted at this point by the changes to the retina.
At this advanced stage, the retina starts growing fragile new blood vessels. These fragile vessels frequently bleed into the jelly-like eye substance (vitreous), which may result in a few light floaters or completely obscure vision.
Individuals who have diabetes, regardless of type, are susceptible to DR.
The risk of developing DR may increase as a result of:
Blurry vision
Dark spots
Floaters
Poor night vision
Vision that changes from blurry to clear
Blurry vision
Dark spots
Floaters
Poor night vision
Vision that changes from blurry to clear
Photographs of the eyes taken during a diabetic eye screening can present early indicators of the condition, so be sure to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Examine your visual acuity
Evaluate your eye pressure
Detect signs of cataracts
Dilate your eyes
Examine your visual acuity
Evaluate your eye pressure
Detect signs of cataracts
Dilate your eyes
For the dilated eye assessment, eyedrops are used to widen your pupils so that your doctor can see more of what's going on inside your eyes. Until the drops wear off, which could take several hours, your near vision may be blurry.
Abnormal blood vessels
Abnormalities in your optic nerve
Growth of new blood vessels and scar tissue
Bleeding in the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the centre of the eye (vitreous)
Swelling, blood or fatty deposits in the retina
Retinal detachment
Abnormal blood vessels
Abnormalities in your optic nerve
Growth of new blood vessels and scar tissue
Bleeding in the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the centre of the eye (vitreous)
Swelling, blood or fatty deposits in the retina
Retinal detachment
To obtain finer details, the ophthalmologist may use ancillary tests such as OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) & FFA (Fundus Fluorescein Angiography).
If you have diabetes, do the following steps to lower your chance of developing diabetic retinopathy:
Participate in physical activity regularly
Manage your diabetes well
Maintain an ideal weight
Practise healthy eating
Consume oral diabetes medication or insulin as directed by your doctors
Maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and blood pressure
Stop smoking
Pay attention to vision changes such as clouding, spotting, or blurriness
Participate in physical activity regularly
Manage your diabetes well
Maintain an ideal weight
Practise healthy eating
Consume oral diabetes medication or insulin as directed by your doctors
Maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and blood pressure
Stop smoking
Pay attention to vision changes such as clouding, spotting, or blurriness
Treatment aims at delaying or stopping the development of the disease and is largely based on the type and severity of diabetic retinopathy.
The requirement for immediate treatment may not be necessary if you have mild or moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. But to determine when you might require treatment, your eye doctor will closely monitor your eyes.
If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, you should get treatment immediately. Depending on the precise retinal issues, you may have the following photocoagulation surgery options:
Surgery frequently slows or stops the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but it is not a cure. There is still a potential for further retinal degeneration and visual loss, as diabetes is a chronic illness.
At Eyecentric at Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre (BTMC), you are under the best care of fully-trained eye professionals who are experienced in a wide range of eye disorders. Our ophthalmologists and eye surgeons will be there for you every step of the way, guiding you through your concerns and providing the best advice to maintain your vision.
