DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

If you have diabetes mellitus, your body neither uses nor stores sugar in an appropriate way and the high sugar content in your blood causes damage to the blood vessels in the retina. This is called "Diabetic Retinopathy".

Types of Diabetic Retinopathy:

Non-poliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: which often causes exudation, oedema and consequent loss in central vision.
Poliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: which causes the appearance of new abnormal vessels: neovessels. These abnormal vessels may produce inflammation in the retina as well as bleeding in the vitreous chamber, causing considerable blockage of vision.
Poliferative Diabetic Retinopathy may also cause detachment of the retina and Neovascular Glaucoma.

How is Poliferative Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosed?

- Examination by the ophthalmologist. Patients with diabetes should be examined regularly.
- At the least sign, your ophthalmologist will recommend an angiography.
- Fluorescein, (injection of a stain in the arm and taking photographs of the bottom of the eye).

When is Diabetic Retinopathy treated?

Surgery with Laser beams: Photo-coagulation. This is advisable in patients with oedema, poliferative diabetic retinopathy and neovascular glaucoma. Sometimes treatment is given in several sessions.

What is a vitrectomy?

In advanced cases of Diabetic Retinopathy, where the retina is detached or where there is bleeding in the vitreous chamber, it is advisable to perform a vitrectomy with the aim of removing the blood-filled vitreous chamber and replacing it with a transparent solution. It is also possible to repair a detachment of the retina in advanced cases of Diabetic Retinopathy.

How can these problems be avoided?

The sooner problems are detected, the better the protection against loss of vision.

When should check-ups be done?

Diabetics should be seen by the ophthalmologist at least once a year and those with Diabetic Retinopathy several times a year.
Changes of glasses should be made with glucose in normalised blood, since, if this is high or low, it will cause inaccurate variations in the graduation of glasses.