Diabetic Retinopathy is an eye condition caused by diabetes. In diabetes, high sugar levels can damage the retina by slowly weakening blood vessels in the eye. At first, this causes no symptoms. However, without treatment, it can cause blindness.
Diabetic Retinopathy can take years to cause blindness. In the early stages, it is treatable. If you are a diabetic, visit your eye doctor every year. Early detection is very important and can save your eyesight!
There are two main causes of vision loss in Diabetic Retinopathy:
When the retina’s blood vessels are too weak, fluid can leak through their walls. This fluid builds up in the retina, causing swelling. In turn, this swelling may cause some vision loss.
New abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina. These vessels are weak, so they can rupture and bleed into the surrounding fluid. This causes sudden vision loss.
Anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes is at risk for Diabetic Retinopathy.
Your risk is greater if you:
In some cases, people with good blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol may still develop Diabetic Retinopathy. To be safe, all diabetics should regularly see an eye doctor for screening.
In the early stages, there are no noticeable symptoms. The only way to detect the condition is for Diabetics to have regular eye screening.
At later stages, you may have:
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your eye doctor immediately. It may not be Diabetic Retinopathy, but it is important to get a check-up done.
Remember: the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat! Regular eye screenings will keep your eyes healthy and safe!
All diabetics should get screened by an eye doctor once a year. If you notice any changes in your vision, schedule an eye checkup as soon as possible. Don’t wait until your next screening.
Controlling your blood sugar can prevent further damage to the retina. But, it most likely will not reverse the damage that has already occurred. You will need to be treated to stop the retina damage from progressing. This damage is linked to how well your diabetes is controlled. So, while controlling your blood sugar may not be a cure, it can help slow the disease.
It’s hard to say. Strict blood sugar control is a must, but it may not be enough. For this reason, all diabetics should get an eye screening every year.
It can be prevented by controlling your diabetes. You must also control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Regular checkups with your primary care physician and an eye doctor are necessary for prevention.
The best way to control a diabetic eye disease is to find and treat it early. Even if you control your diabetes, your eyes are still at risk. The ONLY way to protect your vision is by getting your eyes checked every year.
Yes. This is actually an important sign of Diabetic Retinopathy. In early stages, there is very little bleeding. But in the later stages, new fragile blood vessels grow in the retina. These vessels are so weak that blood may bleed out of the blood vessels into the surrounding fluid. This can cause cloudy vision.
If you have diabetes, your body does not use and store sugar properly. This can damage the small blood vessels in the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue that helps detect images and send them to the brain. So, when it is damaged, vision is greatly affected.
It depends. If the center of the retina was damaged or if the detachment was only treated in a later stage, complete visual recovery cannot be guaranteed. But, there is a chance that your vision will gradually improve.
A few patients might experience double vision. This improves after the oil is removed (3-4 months after surgery).
There is a high chance that cataracts will form. The eye pressure can also increase, causing nerve damage and eye pain.
That decision can only be made by a surgery. Based on the condition of your eye, one option might be better than the other. It is better to use the filling that is best for your eye health than to try and avoid another surgery.
The retinal detachment will progress. You may lose your vision completely as the retina becomes more damaged. You can also develop cataract. If you have uveitis or glaucoma, you may experience eye pain. In the long run, your eyes might even shrink.
Surgery offers a chance to improve your sight. Without it, your eyes will only get worse.
You will stay for 2-3 days after the surgery.
For 7-15 days.
This will vary depending on how you feel and the duration of the surgery. At Aravind, patients usually spend 1-3 hours in the recovery room.
Laser treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy will prevent the progression of the disease. In some cases, vision may also improve slightly. Typically, vision that is lost to Diabetic Retinopathy cannot be restored. So, the longer the treatment is delayed, the higher the chance of permanently losing vision.
This depends on your eye’s response to the first laser treatment. Your doctor will decide if it is needed. Unfortunately, if the retina problem comes back, then another round of laser treatment may be required.
Laser treatment is a very safe procedure. Both the side effects and the possible complications are extremely rare.
Yes, you can perform all your daily activities as you normally do.
No. During laser treatment, your eye will be numbed so you don’t feel any pain. A few patients may experience mild pain, but this only lasts for 3-4 hours. These patients may use eye drops to reduce the pain.
Yes. Laser treatment can close the hole. This prevents retinal detachment.
Yes. You should have a regular check-up in the retinal clinic at least once a year. This will allow doctors to see how well the treatment is working. It can also help them see if any new retinal damage has occurred.
Intravitreal injections are used to treat many diseases that cause irreversible vision loss. They mainly work by preventing further damage. Your vision may improve slightly in some cases, but there is no guarantee.
It depends on your response to the first injection treatment. If the retina problem comes back, then a repeat injection may be required.
Intravitreal injections are given through the white portion of the eye. You will be given anesthetic eye drops, so you should not feel any pain and the injection should not cause any problems.
There are a few, but they are very rare. Injection treatment is a very safe procedure. In fact, you can go home the same day as the treatment.
