What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that can result in vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes, It affects the retina's blood vessels, the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye. It's critical to obtain a complete dilated eye exam at least once a year if you have diabetes, Diabetic retinopathy may not present any symptoms at first, but detecting it early might help you safeguard your eyesight. Diabetes management, which includes keeping physically active, eating a nutritious diet, and taking your medication, can help you avoid or delay vision loss.  

What are the stages of diabetic eye disease?

The small blood vessels that nourish your retina can become blocked due to too much sugar in your blood, cutting off your retina's blood supply, As a result, the eye attempts to create new blood vessels. On the other hand, these new blood vessels do not develop properly and are prone to leaking. Diabetic retinopathy is divided into two types:

• NPDR or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

NPDR is a non-profit organization that promotes non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Diabetic eye disease is in its early stages at this point, It affects numerous people with diabetes.

Tiny blood vessels bleed as a result of NPDR, causing the retina to enlarge, Macular edema occurs when the macular expands, This is the most prevalent cause of visual loss in persons with diabetes.

Blood vessels in the retina can also shut because of NPDR, Macular ischemia is the medical term for this condition, Blood cannot reach the macular when this happens.

Exudates, which are tiny particles, can develop in the retina at times. These can also have an impact on your eyesight, Your eyesight will be hazy if you have NPDR.

• PDR or proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic eye disease has progressed to the point of PDR, It occurs when the retina begins to produce new blood vessels, This process is known as neovascularization.

These young, delicate arteries frequently bleed into the vitreous, You could observe a few black floaters if they bleed a bit, If they bleed profusely, their eyesight may be blocked entirely.

Scar tissue might develop as a result of the new blood vessels, Scar tissue can obstruct the macular or result in a detached retina, PDR is a severe condition that can rob you of both your central and peripheral vision.

 

What are the symptoms?

You may not notice any symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, As the disease progresses, the following may be observed:

• Black threads or spots emerge in your range of vision (floaters).
• Your imagination is blurry.
• Changing image from one moment to the next.
• There are dark or empty spaces in your field of vision.
• Visual impairment.

 

Does diabetes have any adverse effects on the eyes?

The retina is a light-sensitive layer of cells that transforms light into electrical impulses at the back of the eye, The impulses are transmitted to the brain, where they are transformed into the pictures you see. The retina requires a steady supply of blood delivered by a network of tiny blood capillaries, A chronically high blood sugar level damages these blood arteries in three phases over time:

• Background retinopathy

Retinopathy is a condition in which small bulges form in the blood vessels, which may bleed slightly but do not generally impair vision.

• Pre-proliferative retinopathy:

The blood vessels are affected more severely and widely, resulting in more substantial bleeding into the eye.

• Proliferative retinopathy:

Proliferative retinopathy is when scar tissue and new blood vessels form on the retina, fragile and bleed readily, resulting in vision loss.

If an eye condition is detected early enough, lifestyle adjustments and therapy can be used to prevent it from worsening.

 

Is there anything I can do to avoid diabetic retinopathy?

The most excellent approach to reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy is to keep your diabetes under control, This entails maintaining a healthy blood sugar level. This may be accomplished by engaging in regular physical exercise, eating a nutritious diet, and following your doctor's instructions for insulin and other diabetic medications, You'll need a specific lab test called an A1C test to check sure your diabetes treatment plan is working. This test displays your three-month average blood sugar level. You can create a personal A1C goal with the help of your doctor, A1C's goals can help you avoid or manage diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is more likely if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, as well as diabetes, As a result, managing your blood pressure and cholesterol levels can help reduce your chance of eyesight loss.  

Is Diabetic Retinopathy be cured?

Your ophthalmologist's diagnosis is based on what they see in your eyes. Among the treatment options available are:

• Medical supervision

Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure can help avoid vision loss, You must follow the instructions provided by the nutritionist to the fullest.

Take the diabetic medication that your doctor prescribed for you. Sugar management can sometimes even help you regain a part of your vision, Blood pressure control maintains the blood vessels in your eyes healthy.

• Medicine

Anti-VEGF medicine is one sort of treatment, Avastin, Eylea, and Lucentis are among them. Anti-VEGF medicine reduces macula swelling, which slows vision loss and may even improve eyesight.

This medication is administered by ocular injections (shots). Another method for reducing macular edema is to take steroid medication. This can also be administered as an eye injection.

Your doctor will advise you on the number of medicine injections you'll require over time.

 

Magrabi’s advice

The best approach Magrabi center gives to avoid vision loss is to keep your diabetes under control, Even if your vision appears to be OK, consult one of the most qualified eye doctors at Magrabi Center for an annual eye check with dilation if you have diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is more likely if you get diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or if you already had diabetes before becoming pregnant. If you're expecting a child, your eye doctor may advise you to get regular eye tests during your pregnancy, If your eyesight changes suddenly or becomes blurry, spotty, or foggy, see your eye doctor in Magrabi center immediately away.