Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that results from damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, however, it can result in blindness. In the United States, diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in adults.
Diabetic retinopathy can happen to anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In fact, up to 45 percent of adults diagnosed with diabetes in the United States have some degree of diabetic retinopathy, according to the National Eye Institute. And the longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy.
To protect your vision, take prevention seriously. Start by controlling your blood sugar level and scheduling yearly eye exams.
Symptoms
You can have diabetic retinopathy and not know it. In fact, symptoms are unusual in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
As the condition progresses, diabetic retinopathy symptoms may include:
• Spots floating in your vision
• Blurred vision
• Dark streaks or a red film that blocks your vision
• Poor night vision
• Vision loss
Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.
Causes
When you have diabetes, your body doesn't use sugar (glucose) properly. If your blood sugar level is too high, your natural lens may swell — which can blur your vision. Eventually, too much sugar in your blood can damage the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina. This can result in diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is usually classified as early or advanced.
• Early diabetic retinopathy: Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the most common type of diabetic retinopathy. It can be described as mild, moderate or severe. When you have NPDR, the walls of the blood vessels in your retina weaken. Small sections protrude from the vessel walls, sometimes leaking or oozing fluid and blood into the retina. These bulges are called microaneurysms. As the condition progresses, the smaller vessels may close entirely and the larger retinal veins may begin to dilate and become irregular in diameter. Nerve fibers in the retina may begin to swell. Sometimes the central part of the retina (macula) begins to swell, too. This is known as macular edema.
• Advanced diabetic retinopathy: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is the most severe type of diabetic retinopathy. When you have PDR, abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina. Sometimes the new blood vessels grow or leak into the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the center of your eye (vitreous). Eventually, scar tissue stimulated by the growth of new blood vessels may cause the retina to detach from the back of your eye. If the new blood vessels interfere with the normal flow of fluid out of the eye, pressure may build up in the eyeball. This can damage the nerve that carries images from your eye to your brain (optic nerve).
Risk Factors
Diabetic retinopathy can happen to anyone who has diabetes. The risk is highest if you:
• Have poor control of your blood sugar level
• Have high blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol
• Are pregnant
• Are black or Hispanic
• Smoke
The longer you have diabetes, the greater your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy depends on the type of diabetic retinopathy you have, its severity and how well it may respond to specific treatments.
Early diabetic retinopathy
If you have nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may not need treatment right away. However, your eye doctor will closely monitor your retina to determine if you need laser treatment.
Advanced diabetic retinopathy
If you have proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you'll need prompt surgical treatment. Sometimes surgery is recommended for severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy as well. Depending on the specific problems with your retina, options may include:
• Focal laser treatment. This laser treatment, also known as photocoagulation, can stop the leakage of blood and fluid in the eye. It's done in your doctor's office or eye clinic. During the procedure, leaks from abnormal blood vessels are sealed with laser burns. Focal laser treatment is usually done in a single session. Your vision will be blurry for about a day after the procedure. Sometimes small spots caused by the laser burns may appear in your visual field. If you had blurred vision from swelling of the central macula before surgery, however, you may not recover completely normal vision.
• Scatter laser treatment. This laser treatment, also known as panretinal photocoagulation, can shrink the abnormal blood vessels. It's also done in your doctor's office or eye clinic. During the procedure, the areas of the retina away from the macula are treated with scattered laser burns. The burns cause the new blood vessels to shrink and disappear. Scatter laser treatment is usually done in two or more sessions. Your vision will be blurry for about a day after the procedure. Some loss of peripheral vision or night vision after the procedure is possible.
• Vitrectomy. This procedure can be used to remove blood from the center of the eye (vitreous) and scar tissue that's tugging on the retina. It's done in a surgery center or hospital under local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor makes a tiny incision in your eye. The blood-filled tissue and scar tissue are removed with delicate instruments and replaced with a salt solution, which helps maintain your eye's normal shape. Sometimes a gas bubble must be placed in the cavity of the eye to help reattach the retina. After surgery, you may stay in the hospital overnight. If a gas bubble was placed in your eye, you may need to remain in a facedown position until the gas bubble disappears — often several days. You'll need to wear an eye patch and use medicated eyedrops for a few days or weeks. Often, vitrectomy is followed or accompanied by laser treatment.
Surgery often slows or stops the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but it's not a cure. Because diabetes is a lifelong condition, future retinal damage and vision loss is possible. Even after treatment for diabetic retinopathy, you'll need regular eye exams. At some point, additional treatment may be recommended.
Researchers are studying new treatments for diabetic retinopathy, including medications that may help prevent abnormal blood vessels from forming in the eye. Some of these medications are injected directly into the eye to treat existing swelling or abnormal blood vessels.
