Diabetic Retinopathy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes. It affects the eyes, and if left untreated, it can cause vision loss. It can affect people of all ages and can develop in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes sufferers. The longer a person suffers from diabetes and the longer blood sugar levels are left uncontrolled, the more likely a person is to suffer from diabetic retinopathy, and the more severe it will be.

Diabetic Retinopathy Causes

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when too much sugar in the blood causes blockages in the blood vessels in the retina. The blood flow cuts off, and the eye will try to grow new blood vessels to compensate for the blocked ones. The new ones are unable to form properly and can leak fluid in and around the eye.

Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms

The symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can vary, and many people do not notice any symptoms in the early stages of this condition. Over time, patients may start to experience more severe symptoms that include:

• Floaters
• Dark spots
• Fluctuating vision
• Loss of color vision
• Empty spots in vision
• Vision loss

Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis

Diabetic retinopathy can be diagnosed with an eye exam. The doctor will do a physical exam and look into the eye to see if there are any obvious eye abnormalities. The doctor will also perform a variety of tests to rule out other problems and diagnose the condition. These tests include:

• Vision test: These tests can determine the severity of vision loss.
• Glaucoma test: This test will rule out glaucoma as an issue.
• Cataract test: This test will determine if cataracts may be contributing to the vision problems.
• Fluorescein angiography test: Dye is injected into the eye, and photos of the inside of the eye are taken. The dye flows through the blood vessels so doctors can determine which blood vessels are working and which ones are not.
• Optical coherence tomography test: This test will show the doctor’s cross-sectional images of the retina so he or she can determine how much fluid has leaked through the eye.

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Treatment for diabetic retinopathy is dependent on the type of diabetes the person has and the severity of the condition. Some of the most common treatments include:

• Focal laser treatment: This treatment can stop or slow the leakage of fluid in or around the eye. The treatment is quick and usually done in one session. Once complete, the patient’s vision is usually restored.
• Scatter laser treatment: This treatment shrinks the blood vessels in the eyes and reduces the leaking of fluid. Some people do experience a loss of peripheral vision and night vision after this treatment, but others have their vision restored.
• Vitrectomy: This treatment involves making a small incision in the eye to allow the blood to flow out of the middle of the eye. It can also remove scar tissue that may be tugging on the retina to prevent retinal detachment. This procedure is done by a surgeon under a local anesthetic.

Diabetic Retinopathy Prognosis

Over 60 percent of diabetic patients who have had the disease for at least 20 years will suffer from diabetic retinopathy. If diagnosed early and treated properly, vision loss can be corrected, and further complications can be prevented. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness.

Resources:

• American Ophthalmological Society