Diabetic Retinopathy-What Is It?
July 28, 2008
Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication that should be of concern to anyone suffering from diabetes. What happens is that your vision is effected in a number of different ways. That’s because diabetes can damage the eye’s retina. So first let’s look at what the retina is if we want to understand how to prevent retinopathy.
Simply put, the retina is a lot like the camera of your eye. It is a group of nerves at the back of the eyeball that transmits the picture you see to your brain. It’s not a complicated process unless retinopathy interferes.
Blood vessels in the retina are sensitive, and can split. If this happens, fluid from those vessels drip into the eye’s compound. And that’s when the problems begin.
Most people will start to observe what appears to be an obstruction in their sight. Then scar tissue starts to occur around you eyeball and in it. Finally, the retina detaches or breaks away from where it should be sitting.
The problem with diabetics is that high blood sugar levels can trigger all the damage we just pointed out. But there’s a bigger problem. Most people won’t have any symptoms or notice any changes until the problem becomes severe. That means that by the time you notice a problem, it may be too late to do anything about it. Regular visits to the eye doctor are a must because he can discover the problem early on, and that makes correcting the problem much easier. Diabetics should go to the eye doctor at least once a year.
And between visits, always be on the lookout for symptoms or any changes in your vision. Things like black or white spots, called floaters, that appear without reason. Weak and blurry vision can also be a sign of diabetic retinopathy. Double vision too can be a sign. Even if these problems seem mild, they need to be taken seriously. And that means getting in touch with your eye doctor immediately.
Catch it early enough and there are several good treatments available. Options include prescription medications, laser surgery or a more invasive surgery. Discuss each of these options with your doctor to determine the best choice for you.
But again, don’t wait until you have symptoms. Have your eyes checked regularly. Then your doctor can begin any treatment for your diabetic retinopathy before the problem becomes too severe.
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