Junior Blind of America

 

Definition:
Retinopathy is a disease of the retina (the nerve layer that lines the back of your eye). It is the part of your eye that “takes pictures” and sends the images to your brain. Many people with diabetes get retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can lead to poor vision and even blindness. Most of the time, it gets worse over many years. At first, the blood vessels in the eye get weak. This can lead to blood and other liquid leaking into the retina from the blood vessels. This is the most common kind of retinopathy.

Cause:
High blood sugar causes diabetic retinopathy. If you are not able to keep your blood sugar levels near normal, it can hurt your blood vessels. Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels of the retina.

When you have diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure can make it worse. High blood pressure can cause more damage to the weakened vessels in your eye, clouding more of your vision.

Characteristics:
Most of the time, there are no symptoms of diabetic retinopathy until it starts to change your vision. Some characteristics include:

• Sensitivity to glare
• Double vision
• Lack of accommodation
• Fluctuating vision
• Defective visual fields
• Floaters (shadows or dark objects that "float" across your field of vision)
• Possible retinal detachment (nerve layer separation)
• Eye pain

 

Having your eyes checked every year can find diabetic retinopathy early enough to treat and help prevent vision loss. If you notice problems with your vision, call an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) right away. Changes in vision can be a sign of severe damage to your eye. You may not notice symptoms until the disease becomes severe.

There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. However, laser treatment (photocoagulation) is usually very effective at preventing vision loss if it is done before the retina has been severely damaged. Surgical removal of the vitreous gel (vitrectomy) may also help improve vision if the retina has not been severely damaged. Early detection through regular screening is very important. The earlier retinopathy is detected, the easier it is to treat and the more likely vision will be preserved.

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