How does diabetic retinopathy affect the retina?
By Daniel Moore
How does diabetic retinopathy affect the retina?
The abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulate the growth of scar tissue, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This can cause spots floating in your vision, flashes of light or severe vision loss.
What is the first stage of diabetic retinopathy?
The first stage is also called background retinopathy. It means that there are tiny bulges in the tiny blood vessels in your retinas. The bulges are called microaneurysms. They may cause the vessels to leak small amounts of blood into your retinas.
Can diabetic retina be cured?
While treatment can slow or stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy, it’s not a cure. Because diabetes is a lifelong condition, future retinal damage and vision loss are still possible. Even after treatment for diabetic retinopathy, you’ll need regular eye exams. At some point, you might need additional treatment.
Can diabetes cause retina damage?
Diabetes damages blood vessels all over the body. The damage to your eyes starts when sugar blocks the tiny blood vessels that go to your retina, causing them to leak fluid or bleed. To make up for these blocked blood vessels, your eyes then grow new blood vessels that don’t work well.
What are three symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:
- Blurred or distorted vision.
- New color blindness or seeing colors as faded.
- Poor night vision (night blindness).
- Small dark spots (eye floaters) or streaks in your vision.
- Trouble reading or seeing faraway objects.
How long does it take to go blind from diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated. However, it usually takes several years for diabetic retinopathy to reach a stage where it could threaten your sight.
Is diabetic retinopathy reversible?
Can diabetic retinopathy be reversed? No, but it doesn’t have to lead to blindness, either. If you catch it early enough, you can prevent it from taking your vision. That’s why it’s vital to have regular visits with an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist who’s familiar with diabetes and retina treatment.
How do you stop diabetic retinopathy from progressing?
You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help stop it getting worse, by keeping your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control. This can often be done by making healthy lifestyle choices, although some people will also need to take medication.
What worsens diabetic retinopathy?
Worsening of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with the initiation of effective treatment of glycaemia in some patients with diabetes. It has been associated with risk factors such as poor blood‐glucose control and hypertension, and it manifests prior to the long‐term benefits of optimizing glycaemic control.
Can you stop diabetic retinopathy from progressing?
When diabetic retinopathy gets to be severe, new blood vessels that grow can be weak and prone to bursting. To prevent that, eye surgeons can use laser surgery to stop their growth and stabilize disease progression.
