Diabetic retinopathy is a vision problem that can develop in someone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This complication of diabetes is caused by damage to the tiny blood vessels in the retina, which is the light-sensitive lining in the back of the eye.
Retinopathy is one of the many reasons why diabetes should be well-managed by the patient because it can lead to blindness if left untreated. Let’s talk about how to detect diabetic retinopathy, and how to reverse course and partner with an eye doctor who can help you take control of your visual health and wellness.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not cause any noticeable symptoms. As it progresses, however, you may begin to experience visual symptoms such as blurriness, floaters, and dark areas in your vision.
Blood or fluid from the damaged blood vessels can leak into the macula (the center of the retina), which further disturbs your vision and changes how you see colors and details. The symptoms usually affect both eyes, and vision continues to worsen over time.
How Does Diabetes Cause Retinopathy?
As with anything in diabetes, high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the blood vessels – in this case, the vessels in the retina. Sugar can block the blood vessels that go into your retina, and as a result, the body creates more blood vessels to compensate for the damaged blood vessels. However, these new vessels also do not function very well, because there is still high blood sugar causing blockages.
What Is the Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy?
Patients who have early-stage diabetic retinopathy will be advised by their doctor to implement certain lifestyle changes in order to better control their diabetes. Usually, this is enough to drastically slow down the progression of retinopathy. Patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy usually need surgical treatment.
Surgery for diabetic retinopathy includes photocoagulation, which is a type of laser treatment that stops the leakage of blood and fluid from blood vessels in the eye and thereby improves vision. Another type of laser treatment is panretinal photocoagulation, which shrinks the problematic blood vessels in your eye. Also, a vitrectomy can be performed to remove blood and scar tissue in your eye.
While surgery for diabetic retinopathy takes care of the bleeding or leaking blood vessels, it is by no means the only component of treatment. Diabetes management is still at the center of any treatment of diabetes complications. Without controlling your blood sugar, the blood vessels in your eyes and throughout your body could still become damaged.
Ophthalmologist for Diabetic Eye Care in Greater St. Louis, MO
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and want to protect your vision, it’s important to see an eye doctor regularly for close monitoring of your eye health. If you are experiencing vision problems, make an appointment to have an eye exam as soon as possible.
At Advanced Sight Center, our board-certified ophthalmologists provide comprehensive and patient-centric eye care to our patients with all manner of vision issues, including diabetic retinopathy. From regular eye exams to advanced laser treatments, we will make sure your vision is expertly cared for.
To make an appointment with an experienced eye doctor, contact us today by calling our Washington office at (636) 239-1650, or fill out our online request form now. We look forward to serving you!
