key in 1andtype 2 diabetescan lead to the vision-threatening condition known asdiabetic retinopathy.
High blood sugar in poorly controlled diabetes can damage vessels in the light-sensingretinain the back of the eye.
This potentially leads to complications that can threaten your vision.
Initially, diabetic retinopathy may cause only mild vision problems.
As the retina is damaged, it becomes more serious, potentially leading to vision loss or blindness.
The good news is that vision loss from diabetic retinopathy is preventable.
This article covers everything it’s crucial that you know to keep diabetic retinopathy from causing vision damage.
Any of these retinal issues can cause problems with your sight.
This is an early stage in which new blood vessels have not yet begun to form.
In the later proliferative form, these have started to spread across the retina.
This condition can develop from pop in 1 diabetes, often diagnosed in children and adolescents.
It can lead to retinopathy or worsen existing retinopathy.
Fortunately, if you control your sugar levels, you might potentially reduce any eye damage.
How Is Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosed?
To determine if you have diabetic retinopathy, your ophthalmologist or optometrist will give you athorough diabetes eye exam.
This will include taking your history and looking in your eye for signs of the disease.
They may also perform targeted testing.
Here’s what you might expect.
Fluorescein Angiography
Fluorescein angiographycan help detect changes in your blood vessels.
After injecting the dye, the ophthalmologist uses a special camera to shine blue light into the eye.
The retinal blood vessels appear a fluorescent green.Images taken can help identify any problems.
It can also help determine the thickness of the retina to detect swelling.
If this is done soon enough, you may be able to preserve vision.
Your ophthalmologist may suggest one of the following approaches.
Laser Treatments
Laser photocoagulationuses a laser to treat the retina.
In some cases, a surgical procedure known as avitrectomycan help.
Can Diabetic Retinopathy Be Prevented?
It’s also important to avoid smoking and to drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
Diabetic Retinopathy Complications
In some cases, diabetic retinopathy can result in other eye problems.
Here are some complications that may arise.
Get a dilated eye exam as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Summary
If you have any form of diabetes, you are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.
With this condition, sugar in the blood damages retinal vessels, which can leak and threaten vision.
You will likely be monitored closely for any signs that you are developing diabetic retinopathy.
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