Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy

People with Diabetes can have an eye disease called Diabetic Retinopathy. This is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak, or they can close, stopping blood form passing through. Sometimes, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina. All of these changes can steal your vision.

You can have Diabetic Retinopathy and not know it because of the lack of symptoms in the early stages. As it gets worse, you can notice symptoms like:

  • Seeing floaters
  • Having blurry vision
  • Having vision that changes sometimes from blurry to clear
  • Seeing blank or dark areas in your field of vision
  • Having poor night vision
  • Noticing colors appear faded or washed out
  • Losing vision
Treatments depend on a doctor's evaluation of your eyes but may include:

  • Medicine to help reduce swelling of the macula, slowing vision loss, and possibly improving vision. Medicine is given as injections in your eye.
  • Laser surgery can also be used to seal off leaking blood vessels, reduce swelling of the retina, and help shrink blood vessels and prevent them from growing again.
  • Vitrectomy surgery, where your Ophthalmologist removes viterous gel and blood from leaking vessels in the back of your eye.

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