Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or the body is unable to process it properly. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Diabetes can affect children and adults.
Patients with diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, but the disease’s affect on the retina is the main threat to vision. Most patients develop diabetic changes in the retina after approximately 20 years. The effect of diabetes on the eye is called diabetic retinopathy.
Over time, diabetes affects the circulatory system of the retina. The earliest phase of the disease is known as background diabetic retinopathy. In this phase, the arteries in the retina become weakened and leak, forming small, dot-like hemorrhages. These leaking vessels often lead to swelling or edema in the retina and decreased vision.
In the later phases of the disease, continued abnormal vessel growth and scar tissue may cause serious problems such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.
Signs and Symptoms
- There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy
- Floaters
- Difficulty reading or doing close work
- Double vision
- If left untreated, severe vision loss can occur
Detection and Diagnosis
A comprehensive dilated retinal exam is paramount in the detection of diabetic retinopathy. Digital high resolution retinal imaging can spot the slightly irregularity. Special retinal lenses help our doctors view the retina in 3D. The newest technology is with our Heidelberg III retinal tomographer. It can detect the slightest amount of edema ( Fluid) in the central retina when treatment is most sucessful.
Treatment
Diabetic patients require routine eye examinations so related eye problems can be detected and treated as early as possible. Most diabetic patients are frequently examined by an internist or endocrinologist who in turn work closely with the eye doctor. If left untreated, severe vision loss can occur