Diabetic Retinopathy: Can It Be Cured?
What is Diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in the retina, which is a vital part of the eye. The lining in the back of the eye converts light into images. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina. The blood vessels may expand, leak fluid, or bleed, frequently resulting in visual abnormality or blindness commonly affecting both eyes.
Diabetic retinopathy can scar and harm the retina if left untreated. It is the most commonly cited reason for vision loss among people with Type -1 and Type -2 diabetes. However, if detected early enough, it can be treated using various techniques, such as laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy or intravitreal injections.
Cause of diabetic retinopathy
Prolonged diabetes causes the tiny retinal blood vessels to become clogged. As a result, new blood vessels begin to form in the eyes. However, because these new blood vessels are irregular and brittle, blood escapes them, leading to diabetic retinopathy. However, it cannot be found without routine eye exams because there are no early symptoms.
When more blood vessels are clogged, the condition worsens. Extra blood vessels in the eye result in clustered scar tissue. In addition, the retina may tear or separate due to this. This may also result in loss of vision or other eye disorders, like glaucoma or cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens).
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may not exhibit any symptoms. However, you might suffer some of the following indications and symptoms:
- Distorted or blurry vision
- Vision loss
- Fluctuation of vision
- A blind spot or dark area in your field of vision.
- Some patients complain about seeing floaters. Floaters are dark spots or strings that drift through your range of vision.
Diagnosis:
During your eye exam, the eye doctor will follow some protocols to determine if you have diabetic retinopathy. The doctor will dilate your pupils to check for any changes in the blood vessels in your eye or to see if any new ones have developed. Your retina’s swelling and detachment will also be examined.
Your doctor can determine whether you have DME (diabetic macular edema) or severe diabetic retinopathy using fluorescein angiography. This method helps show the damaged or leaking blood vessels. The physician injects a fluorescent dye into the arm, and some pictures are taken to identify the affected areas in the retina from where the dye leaks.
Treatments for diabetic retinopathy
The following are the available treatments for diabetic retinopathy:
Topical Medicines
The use of topical medicines, such as topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can be helpful in managing macular edema.
Intravitreal Injections
A shot of medicine is administered intravitreally to the eye. An eye’s inside is filled with a jelly-like (vitreous) fluid. Your doctor will inject medication into the vitreous, which is located close to the retina.
Laser Procedure
In laser procedures the demand of the retina for oxygen is reduced thus the new blood vessel formation is stopped.Additionally, the edema in the retina can be reduced with laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
Vitrectomy
In some cases, restoring vision requires a Vitrectomy rather than laser surgery. A vitrectomy is performed when there is vitreous haemorrhage that has not resolved by itself within a month or if rebleeding is seen in vitreous. The process involves removing the blood along with the vitreous and substituting gas or oil.
Be conscious of your eye health and consult an expert.
Our eyes are the most delicate part that requires conscious care and attention. Therefore, professionals must check eye problems for the correct and timely diagnosis and treatment. If you want diabetic retinopathy treatment in Dadar, head to Krishna Eye Center for comprehensive eye care solutions. With 25 years of experience, Krishna Eye Center is a reputable clinic that offers laser eye surgery in Dadar. The clinic has a reliable team of qualified professionals and the best eye surgeons in Sion
