About diabetic retinopathy

However, it typically takes a number of years for diabetic retinopathy to progress to the point where it can endanger your vision.

To minimize the risk of this happening, people with diabetes should:

• Ensure they control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Attend diabetic eye screening appointments – annual screening is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over to pick up and treat any problems early on.

 

How diabetes can affect the eyes

High blood sugar destroys the retina's blood vessels, which results in diabetic retinopathy (a light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye). Blood flow may be halted or eyesight may become fuzzy as a result of swollen, leaking, damaged blood vessels.Over time, a persistently high blood sugar level can damage these blood vessels in three main stages:

• Tiny bulges develop in the blood vessels, which may bleed slightly but don’t usually affect your vision – this is known as background retinopathy.
• More severe and widespread changes affect the blood vessels, including more significant bleeding into the eye – this is known as pre-proliferative retinopathy
• Scar tissue and new blood vessels, which are weak and bleed easily, develop on the retina – this is known as proliferative retinopathy and it can result in some loss of vision

 

However, if a problem with your eyes is picked up early, lifestyle changes and/or treatment can stop it getting worse.

Am I at risk of diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy might potentially occur in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

You're more vulnerable if you:

• Have had diabetes for a long time
• Have a persistently high blood sugar (blood glucose) level
• Have high blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol
• Are pregnant
• Are of Asian or Afro-Caribbean background

 

You can lessen your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy by maintaining healthy blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy

You might not have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As the condition progresses, you might develop:

• Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
• Blurred vision
• Fluctuating vision
• Dark or empty areas in your vision
• Vision loss

Diabetic eye screening

• A test called a diabetic eye screening looks for eye issues brought on by diabetes.
• Diabetes-related eye issues are known as diabetic retinopathy. If it's not discovered right away, this could cause blindness.
• The eye exam can identify issues before they impair your vision.
• Your eyes' backs are photographed to look for any alterations.
• You will receive a letter requesting that you have your eyes checked at least once a year if you have diabetes and are 12 years of age or older.

 

Reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy

You can reduce your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help prevent it getting worse, by:

• Maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar
• Use your diabetes treatment as directed
• Attending each of your screenings
• If you detect any changes in your vision, seek medical attention right once.
• Preserving a healthy weight, following a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy

Only when serious issues are found during screening that put your vision in danger do you need to start treatment for diabetic retinopathy.

The above diabetes management advice is suggested if the problem hasn't progressed to this point.

The following are the main therapies for more severe diabetic retinopathy:

• Laser therapy
• Medicine injections into your eyes
• A surgery to clean your eyes of blood or scar tissue