What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common complications associated with diabetes.

Retinopathy is the damage to the retina brought about by the destruction of the micro-blood vessels that supply blood to the eye.

The basement membrane of the blood vessels thickens which can render them incompetent. As a result, the blood-retinal barrier also changes, making them more permeable.

High amounts of glucose in the blood can also accumulate in these very small blood vessels which will not only block the flow of blood but can totally damage their structures as well.

Diabetic Retinopathy and Blindness

Although diabetic retinopathy is a very slow and progressive condition, it can lead to permanent blindness when left untreated.

Studies have shown that diabetic patients who have had the disease for 10 years or more are very susceptible to retinal damage.

Diabetic retinopathy usually starts with blurred vision which makes it hard for patients to drive or do certain kinds of activities.

Blood vessels at the back of the eye can leak out blood, which causes blurring. This may not be very severe at first but can slowly progress until the patient’s sight is completely impaired.

Patients with both diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2 are at risk for diabetic retinopathy.

The degree of damage can worsen over time. In the United States alone, 40 to 45% of diabetic patients have certain forms of diabetic retinopathy.

Those with gestational diabetes are prone to retinal damage as well. Hence, pregnant women are highly advised to undergo regular eye examinations during the course of their pregnancies.

How to Diagnose Diabetic Retinopathy

There are now various tests that are used to diagnose diabetic retinopathy. A good and very simple example of this is the Visual Acuity Test.

The Visual Acuity Test makes use of an eye chart to determine the ability of a patient to see objects at various distances.

Another kind of test used is the pupil dilation test where medical experts focus mainly on examining the retina.

A liquid is dropped on to the eye to dilate the pupils which allows them wider access for examining signs of diabetic retinopathy.

More complex eye examinations used for diagnosing retinal damage include the Digital Retinal Screening Programs and the Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy Retinal Screening Programs.

These programs are generally used for early detection of diabetic reti

nopathy and make use of more complex image capture systems for thorough retinal inspection and diagnosis.

How to Manage Diabetic Retinopathy

The good news about this is that diabetic retinopathy is a highly manageable condition.

Those who have advanced stages of retinal damage still have a 90% chance of acquiring back their normal vision.

There are now various kinds of treatment options that patients can choose from – such as LASER surgery, vitrectomy and triamcinolone injections.

But remember, although these kinds of treatment can effectively slow down or stop further loss of vision, this will not cure diabetic retinopathy entirely.

Not all of these treatments can also work for all patients. Laser treatments for instance, can lead to a loss of retinal tissue which can also produce other harmful consequences.

So always be very cautious in choosing the kind of treatment to use for curing diabetic retinopathy and get as much professional advice as you can.