Diabetes & Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes is a disease that is caused when the body is unable to produce enough Insulin or is unable to use it properly. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood it is produced in the Pancreas.

As well as causing problems throughout the body patients who have Diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems. The longer a patient has Diabetes and the less well controlled it is the greater the chance of developing problems.

Diabetic patients are more at risk of Cataracts and Glaucoma, but the greatest threat to vision that Diabetes causes is the affect on the Retina.

Symptoms
Patients with Diabetic Eye disease may not have any symptoms at all, but symptoms may include changes in refractive error , blurring of vision or double vision. The symptoms may be due to changes in the blood sugar levels.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when the tiny blood vessels on the retina become damaged. This damage causes the blood vessels to leak(Background Diabetic Retinopathy) and can also result in new blood vessels growing in the retina (Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy).

These new blood vessels (neovascularization) grow to try and replace the loss of oxygen caused by the original leaking. They are generally weaker than the original vessels and will leak again. This leakage can cause blurred vision and can lead to a build up of scar tissue that can ultimately cause a Retinal Detachment.

This will lead to a serious loss of vision unless treated.



Treatment
It is important that any signs of Diabetic Retinopathy are discovered in the early stages. This is why regular eye examinations are vital for Diabetic Patients.The Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy is aimed at saving the remaining sight rather than restoring sight that is already lost.

Laser treatment (Pan Retinal Photocoagulation) is usually the treatment of choice. It utilises Lasers to destroy the tissue in the periphery of the retina. This causes blind spots but it prevents the growth of new vessels and seals the leaking vessels.

Retina with Pan Retinal Photocoagulation



Prevention
Diabetic patients who are able to control their blood sugar levels have fewer eye problems than those with poor control. Diet and exercise play important roles in the overall health of those with diabetes. Diabetic patients can also greatly reduce the possibilities of eye complications by attending routine eye examinations with an OPTOMETRIST or OPHTHALMOLOGIST. Many problems can be treated with much greater success when caught early.

Astigmatism
Cataracts
Diabetes & Diabetic Retinopathy
Flashes & Floaters
Glaucoma
Hypermetropia (Long Sightedness)
Macula Degeneration
Myopia (Short Sightedness)
Presbyopia
Retinal Detachments & Retinal Tears