What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy occurs when changes in blood glucose levels cause changes in retinal blood vessels. In some cases, these vessels will swell up (macular oedema) and leak fluid into the rear of the eye.
In other cases, abnormal blood vessels will grow on the surface of the retina.
Unless treated, diabetic retinopathy can gradually become more serious and progress from ‘background retinopathy’ to seriously affecting vision and can lead to blindness.
What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
Like many conditions of this nature, the early stages of diabetic retinopathy may occur without symptoms and without pain. An actual influence on the vision will not occur until the disease advances.
Macular oedema can result from maculopathy and affect vision occurs if leaking fluid causes the macular to swell. New vessels on the retina can prompt bleeding, which can also block vision in some cases.
How is diabetic retinopathy caused?
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by prolonged high blood glucose levels Over time, high sugar glucose levels can weaken and damage the small blood vessels within the retina.
This may cause haemorrhages, exudates and even swelling of the retina.
This then starves the retina of oxygen, and abnormal vessels may grow. Good blood glucose control helps to lower diabetes retinopathy risks.
Am I at risk from diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy risk factors include the following.
If any of the below affect you it’s worth having a retinopathy screening examination as quickly as possible.
- Poor blood glucose control
- Protein in urine
- High blood pressure
- Prolonged diabetes
- Raised fats (triglycerides) in the blood
Anyone suffering from diabetes faces the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes complications
The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy becomes. However, keeping blood glucose levels well-controlled can help to significantly slow down the development of retinopathy.
Are there any ways to prevent diabetic retinopathy?
Long-term good blood glucose level management helps to prevent diabetic retinopathy and lower the risk of developing it. Heart disease risk factors also affect retinopathy risk and include stopping smoking, having regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks and undergoing regular eye check-ups.
The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy can be lessened by taking the following precautions:
- Taking a dilated eye examination once a year
- Managing diabetes strictly through medicine, insulin, diet and exercise
- Test blood sugar levels regularly
- Test urine for ketone levels regularly
