Diabetic Retinopathy

What is Diabetic Retinopathy?

A common complication of diabetes mellitus that affects the functioning of the retina. Eye complications due to Diabetes occur due to high blood sugar and it gradually damages the structures of the eyes.

Surprisingly, you may not notice the symptoms of Diabetes Retinopathy in its early stages. The symptoms will appear only after the condition gets more advances. However, early signs can be identified with regular diabetic eye screening for patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy:

The main risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy are:

• Duration of diabetes
• High blood glucose levels
• high blood pressure

Thus, the first recommendation for a patient affected by diabetic retinopathy is that they be very disciplined with their general healthcare, diet and weight control and that they follow the guidelines given to them by their endocrinologist.

Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy

Blurry vision

Blurry vision

Gradual loss of vision

Gradual loss of vision

Frequent floaters

Frequent floaters

Sudden loss of vision

Sudden loss of vision

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Treatment

Some patients affected by diabetic retinopathy only require regular check-ups on their eye health.

In other cases, a laser has to be selectively applied to the abnormal veins of the retina to reduce the oedema or even to ischaemic areas (with no blood flow) to prevent the disease from becoming more serious.

In the most advanced cases, intraocular haemorrhages and/or retinal detachment require intraocular microsurgery techniques (vitrectomy), which is usually performed under local anesthesia.

Equally, the intraocular drug injections are very effective in selected cases.

Frequently asked questions

• If you don't have any symptoms, you don't have diabetes retinopathy?

  Diabetes retinopathy often has no symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

• Diabetes retinopathy only affects people with uncontrolled diabetes?

  Diabetes retinopathy can affect anyone with diabetes, regardless of how well their blood sugar is controlled.

• Only people with Type 1 diabetes get retinopathy?

  Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can cause retinopathy.

• Diabetes retinopathy is a rare condition?

  Diabetes retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

• Will I definitely go blind because of Diabetes Retinopathy?

  With early detection and treatment, most cases of diabetes retinopathy can be successfully managed, and vision loss can be prevented.

• People with diabetes should only get their eyes checked if they have vision problems?

  Regular eye exams are important for all people with diabetes, even if they have no vision problems, to detect diabetes retinopathy in its early stages.

Location and contact

Barraquer UAE Eye Hospital

Dubai Healthcare City – Phase II. - Al Jaddaf - Dubai - UAE

Phone (outside U.A.E): + 971 4 573 9999 / Toll free (within U.A.E): 800 234823 (BEHUAE)