24/08/2020
So Diabetes affects all part of the body. High blood sugars can be toxic, and damage blood vessels.
The fine blood vessels in the back part of the eye - which is the Retina unfortunately get severely damaged due to these high blood sugars.
This results in Diabetic Retinopathy - the manifestations of which progress, largely based on the severity of Diabetes.
Generally, most initially, the damaged blood vessels tend to leak, resulting in swelling of the central part of the Retina - called the Macula.
This condition causes poor vision and is called Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). At this stage, generally the retina specialist advices tests such as Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA). And may plan for treating the swelling by using medicines which need to be injected into the eye (since eye drops have not been found to be as effective for this back part of the eye, retina).
Further deterioration, generally results in formation of new abnormal blood vessels, called Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR), which may bleed inside the eye (Vitreous Hemorrhage) or cause detachment of the Retina (Tractional Retinal Detachment or TRD). To prevent and / or treat such a situation, the Retina Specialist will generally advice Retinal Laser (Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation or PRP)
In case the condition is still fairly advanced, Vitreo-Retinal Surgery may be the only option to prevent any further damage, and restore vision.
Answering common questions. For specifically discussing with Internationally Certified, MD(AIIMS, Delhi) Retina Specialist Click Here. What is diabetic retinopathy? Why is it so dangerous? The retina, which is the back part of the eye, as a consequence can develop swelling, abnormal blood vessels le...
