What is Diabetic
Retinopathy?
If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does
not use and store sugar properly. In diabetes, high blood sugar levels can
damage the blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye
that senses light and helps send images to the brain. Damage to the retinal
vessels is called diabetic retinopathy. There are two types: non-proliferative
diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy is an early stage
condition. In NPDR, tiny blood vessels within the retina leak blood or fluid,
causing the retina to become swollen. This swelling is called macular edema, and
it is one of the primary causes of blurry vision in diabetics. Retinal blood
vessels can also become completely closed, causing retinal tissue to die in some
areas. This condition is called macular ischemia and it also results in blurry
vision.
Diabetic Macular Edema
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is a
more advanced condition where abnormal new blood vessels begin to grow within
the retina to supply blood to areas where the original blood vessels have become
closed. Unfortunately, these blood vessels not only can cause severe bleeding
within the eye (vitreous hemorrhage), but can also cause detachment and scarring
of the retina (traction retinal detachment). Abnormal blood vessels can also
grow on the iris (the colored part of the eye) and block the normal flow of
fluid out of the eye, resulting in a painful rise in eye pressure (neovascular
glaucoma).
Photo of Proliferative
Diabetic Retinopathy
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
The best treatment is to prevent the
development of diabetic retinopathy as much as possible by strict control of
blood sugar and blood pressure. When diabetic retinopathy develops, laser
treatment is used to selectively treat leaky blood vessels to decrease retinal
swelling. Laser treatment can also be used to induce regression of abnormal new
blood vessels. In cases of severe hemorrhage and/or detachment of the retina,
microsurgery can be performed within the eye to remove blood and reattach the
retina.
Laser Treatment for PDR
