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Retina
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease that causes problems with the
way the body uses and stores sugar. High blood-sugar levels can result in damage to many
systems of the body, including the kidneys, the nervous system, and the eyes. Diabetic
retinopathy occurs because of changes to the blood vessels of the eye.
Normal blood vessels in the eye do not leak or bleed. Blood vessels in the eye
affected by diabetes may leak fluid or blood, resulting in blurred vision. This type of
retinopathy is called background retinopathy, and the swelling is called macular edema.
Advanced diabetic retinopathy (proliferative retinopathy) is characterized by the growth of
new blood vessels on the retinal surface (called neovascularization). These vessels are
fragile, and traction on them may cause bleeding or even retinal detachment.
Visual
loss in diabetic patients is a late sequel of the disease, and complications may in fact be
occurring prior to the onset symptoms. Diabetic patients should schedule eye examinations at
least once a year. Examinations may be more frequent based upon the degree on retinopathy.
Treatments range from close observation with tight control of blood sugar levels, to
laser for macular edema and neovascularization, to surgery for hemorrhages and retinal
detachments.
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