Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans. People with both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are at risk for this condition. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the eye’s retina that occurs during long-term diabetes. Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms before major bleeding occurs in the eye. This is why everyone with diabetes should have regular eye exams. Having more severe diabetes for a longer period of time increases the chance of getting retinopathy. Retinopathy is also more likely to occur earlier and be more severe if your diabetes has been poorly controlled.
Diabetic Retinopathy Description
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye. It changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.
There are two types, or stages of retinopathy: non-proliferative or proliferative.
Other problems that may develop are:
The following are very important for preventing diabetic retinopathy:
People with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy may not need treatment. However, they should be closely followed by an eye doctor trained to treat diabetic retinopathy. If new blood vessels growing in your retina (neovascularization) or macular edema is noted, treatment is usually needed.
Several procedures or surgeries are the main treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
Laser eye surgery creates small burns in the retina where there are abnormal blood vessels. This process is called photocoagulation. It is used to keep vessels from leaking or to get rid of abnormal, fragile vessels.
Diabetic Retinopathy: Treatment Overview
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