Do you have diabetic retinopathy?

Posted on 23 April 2013

Even those with advanced retinopathy have a 90% chance of keeping their vision if treated before the retina is severely damaged.

Half of people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, a condition which can cause blindness. But take heart – it is readily treated. Mediclinic Cape Town ophthalmic surgeon, Dr Zoran Aleksic, talks us through your options…

What signs of diabetic retinopathy will my doctor look for in an eye examination?
Your doctor, who should be trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, will be looking signs such as damaged nerve tissue, changes to your blood vessels, leaking blood vessels, swelling of your retina and pale fatty deposits on the retina.
If your doctor suspects you have macular edema, a condition in which blood vessels leak or block, or new abnormal vessels develop, you may have a more detailed test known as a fluorescein angiogram. With this a dye is injected into your arm and as it passes through the retina photographic images are captured, revealing leaking blood vessels.

What causes it?
The capillaries, or tiny blood vessels, in your retina can be damaged when your blood sugar levels are too high for extended periods of time, which can cause leaking and swelling. If left untreated, blocked vessels can lead to the growth of new abnormal blood vessels which can damage the retina by wrinkling it or causing detachment.

What are my treatment options for diabetic retinopathy?
If you have the earlier form of diabetic retinopathy (non-proliferative), you may not need treatment, but you will need to regular examinations and should you develop new blood vessels on your retina or signs of macular oedoema, you will need it.
You may need:
•    Laser surgery, in which miniscule burns are applied to get rid of abnormal, fragile vessels and keep others from leaking. This is known as photocoagulation. This can often be done in your doctor’s rooms using an anaesthetic eye drop.
•    Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure done under local or general anaesthetic, when you have bleeding in the eye. Tiny instruments are used to remove blood and scar tissue and to remove abnormal blood vessels. This allows light to reach the retina and the retina to settle into its normal location.
Remember that while both of these treatments are highly effective in reducing vision loss, they do not cure diabetic retinopathy but it can slow it down.

What can I do to protect my eyes?
Maintaining a strict control over your blood sugar and blood pressure will significantly reduce your long-term risk of vision problems. Make sure you have regular screenings with your eye doctor and contact your doctor immediately if your vision should become blurry, spotty or hazy.

Read here for more information on diabetic retinopathy and why it is important to have your eyes tested if you are living with diabetes.

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The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.