Diabetic retinopathy is a serious eye condition that can occur in people with diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.
Typically there are 2 stages of diabetic retinopathy:
- Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR)
This is an early stage, and may present with no symptoms. Small retina blood vessels may swell, and leak. Mild cases typically do not affect vision, but more severe cases can cause blurry vision. Other common symptoms include the appearance of floaters, and difficulty seeing at night. Early stages may not require immediate treatment but need careful monitoring.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
This is the advanced stage of the disease. New blood vessels start to grow in the retina in response to poor blood flow. These new blood vessels are prone to bleeding, and can lead to significant vision loss. At this stage, symptoms can include sudden vision changes including floaters, blurry vision and even blindness. Advanced stage treatment options include laser treatment, injections, and vitrectomy.
There are several risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy including but not limited to duration of diabetes, poor blood sugar control, high blood pressure, and smoking.
Diabetic retinopathy is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye exam which includes a dilated fundus examination. Additional tests such as fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help with the diagnosis as well.
We highly recommend annual eye exams for those with diabetes to detect early signs of retinopathy. Call our clinic to book your exam today! 289-309-1090
