Causative and risk factors
Diabetic retinopathy occurs especially in long standing diabetics, of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. When blood sugar levels remain uncontrolled for long periods, it leads to blockages within the small blood vessels of the retina. These blockages lead to loss of vision. In response, your retina tries to grow new abnormal blood vessels. These new vessels tend to swell and leak, further hampering vision. All these changes can eventually lead to blindness.
Clinical presentation
The field of vision may be riddled with floating dark spots or strings. Vision may become hazy or fluctuating. There may be empty areas in vision or loss of vision. Perception of color may become difficult.
Diabetic retinopathy can give rise to complications like macular edema, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, glaucoma and blindness.
Diagnosis & Investigations
Diabetic retinopathy must be differentiated from other causes of retinal damage such as hypertension, radiation exposure, anemia, leukemia, idiopathic onset etc.
An eye examination is carried out by dilating the eyes with drops and then examining to look for visible signs of damage.
Visual acuity test is done to gauge the extent to which your vision is damaged.
Optical coherence tomography is performed in which cross sectional images of the retina are taken.
Fundus Fluorescein angiography – In this procedure a dye is injected into the body, which circulates through the eyes. Pictures of your eye are taken which will demonstrate the tiny blood vessels.
Treatment
Blood sugar levels must be controlled to slow the progression of eye damage.
Photocoagulation therapy: Laser therapy is used to stop the blood vessels from leaking.
Panretinal photocoagulation: This therapy uses laser rays to shrink the abnormal newly formed blood vessels.
Vitrectomy: This procedure will remove blood and scar tissue attached on the retina.
Statistics
Amongst diabetic individuals, about 34.6% suffer from some form of diabetic retinopathy.
