Diabetic retinopathy is a serious public health issue.  

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age in developed countries.  In 2012, nearly 30 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes per the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetic retinopathy is the visible manifestation of longstanding diabetes in the retina.  

Changes in the eye caused by diabetes are due to a combination of the longevity of disease duration and degree of blood sugar control.  Diabetes will affect the eyes of nearly all patients with sufficient duration of uncontrolled disease.  If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can result in eye pain over time and can even result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

As with many eye problems, symptoms may not manifest until late in the disease.  Common symptoms include:

• Decreased vision
• Floaters
• Blind spots
• Distortion
• Eye pain
• Loss of vision
• Poor color vision
• Poor night vision

The number one risk factor for the development of diabetic retinopathy is the duration of diabetes.

In short, the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop bleeding in the retina.  Other factors include poor blood sugar control, poor blood pressure control, high cholesterol, pregnancy, and barriers to healthcare access.

Diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels in the eye.  

This leads to poor blood flow in the eye.  A low oxygen state triggers a series of biochemical and cellular events that can cause damage to the eye over time.

Diabetic retinopathy progresses through a series of very predictable stages. 

Diabetic retinopathy begins as a “non-proliferative” disease, meaning that hemorrhages begin to form in the retina and small vascular abnormalities form within the retina.  If left untreated, the diabetic retinopathy becomes increasingly more severe, until it eventually enters a proliferative stage.

This proliferative stage is identified by the development of abnormal, new blood vessels.  These blood vessels can lead to hemorrhaging with the gel in the middle of the eye (vitreous hemorrhage), scar tissue formation on the retina, retinal detachment, or a painful type of glaucoma (neovascular glaucoma).  The abnormal vessels can be treated with a laser procedure called pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP).  If left untreated, an eye will become blind and painful over time. Ophthalmologists and retina specialists like to identify and treat the disease before it gets to the “proliferative” stage.

Patients can help prevent diabetic retinopathy by getting a yearly dilated eye exam. 

Eye exams help with early detection and prevention.  The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends an eye exam at the time of diagnosis of diabetes then yearly for Type 2 diabetics.  Intensive blood sugar control both reduces the risk of progression and slows progression in most patients.

Treatment options include close observation, laser, or injections of medications like Avastin, Lucentis, and Eylea into the eye.  Ophthalmologists commonly work with primary care doctors and endocrinologists in patients at high risk for vision loss.

For further reading, check out the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Preferred Practice Patterns regarding diabetic retinopathy.

It is very important for diabetics to have their eyes checked annually for any signs of diabetic retinopathy.  Call today if you are due for your yearly eye exam – 941-777-5000.

A yearly diabetic eye exam is recommended for patients with diabetes.

WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that can affect anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.  It is caused by damage to the small blood vessels at the back part of the eye and can lead to bleeding and swelling within and close to the retinal layers.  It is hard to detect without the help of a skilled ophthalmologist.  Diabetic retinopathy can be severe and can lead to blindness, in some cases.  The more uncontrolled a patient’s blood pressure and blood sugar, the higher the likelihood they have diabetic retinopathy causing problems with their vision.

HOW CAN A RETINAL SPECIALIST HELP WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?

Retinal specialists can help by monitoring for the development of diabetic retinopathy and treating retinopathy when it occurs.  It is recommended that every diabetic gets a yearly routine screening eye examination.  Request an appointment today by calling 941-777-5000!

Video courtesy of National Eye Institute, NIH