See Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is the number one cause of new cases of blindness in the United States. Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding condition in which the blood vessels inside the retina become damaged from the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes. The retina lines the inside of the back of the eye. The image the eye sees forms on the retina much like the image that a camera sees forms on film.

There are two types of diabetic retinopathy. The less severe type is called Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. In this type, abnormal leakage of blood and/or fluid occurs in the retina. Vision loss can occur from one of two ways that affect the macula, the part of the eye responsible for our most critical vision. The macula can become irreversibly damaged by ischemia, which is a lack of blood flow to that part of the eye. The macular can also become edematous, which is swelling of this critical portion of the eye with fluid leaking from the blood vessels.

The second type of diabetic retinopathy is the more severe Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels start to grow in the retina. The vessels can bleed and in severe cases can pull the retina off of its normal attachments.

What are the treatments?

The best treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy is early detection. Diabetics should be screened for retinopathy at least once a year. By doing so, your Eye M.D. can pick up early signs of disease for it start affecting your vision. For the most part, once vision is lost from diabetic retinopathy, it impossible to restore. That is why early detection is extremely important.

Retinal Angiography is a test which studies the flow of blood in the retina. This is done by taking special pictures of the retina after a dye has been injected into one of the veins of the arm. The test allows your Eye M.D. to pick up early disease, to classify the type of disease that you have, and to plan an accurate and effective treatment.

Focal Photocoagulation is the application of laser energy to edematous parts of the macula. Studies have shown that this treatment can slow down or sometimes stop the loss of vision occurring from macular edema. This treatment does not restore any vision which has already been lost from macular ischemia.

Panretinal Photocoagulation is application of laser energy all over the peripheral retina. Studies have shown this type of laser causes the abnormal blood vessels of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy to decrease and to sometime disappear. This treatment does not restore any vision which has already been lost but it can prevent an eye from becoming completely blind.

When Diabetic Retinopathy is severe, surgery may be needed. The success of any treatment by your Eye M.D. is greatly aided by intensive control of your blood sugars with the help of your primary care physician.