Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)

Maculopathy

The area of the retina we use most is called the macula. It is essential for clear, detailed vision.

In maculopathy, the haemorrhages, exudates and swellings of the first stage occur in the macula. This may interfere with vision, particularly for reading and seeing fine details.

Proliferative retinopathy

At this stage, some of the tiny blood vessels in the retina become blocked. In response to the lack of blood in the retina, new abnormal blood vessels grow.

These blood vessels are fragile and may:

- bleed into the eye (vitreous haemorrhage)
- stimulate abnormal supporting tissues that can cause the retina to detach.

Both these complications would cause a reduction in vision. If the blood vessels were left untreated, it could eventually lead to blindness.

In addition, the abnormal blood vessels increase the likelihood of a type of glaucoma that is very difficult to treat.

Proliferative retinopathy causes no symptoms until it is very advanced. If a vitreous haemorrhage develops, it can cause sudden loss of vision in one eye.

How is it diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made by examining the back of the eye (retina).

Until diabetic retinopathy is at a very advanced stage, vision is not usually affected.

This means it's usually detected by routine checks, making regular eye examinations a must for people with diabetes.

Early diagnosis will also help treatment.

Everyone with diabetes should have their eyes examined each year. This may be carried out by the doctor who looks after your diabetes, your GP, or through local programmes that use an optician or diabetic screening eye vans.

If there is any evidence of retinopathy picked up, you will be referred to an eye clinic. The frequency of follow-up then needed depends on the extent of the retinopathy.

What are the risk factors?

. There is an increased risk of retinopathy:

- with poor blood sugar control, ie levels are too high for too much of the time
- if there's protein in your urine
- if you have high blood pressure
- the longer you've had diabetes
- if you have raised levels of fats (triglycerides) in the blood
- the more swellings you have (microaneurysms)
- with pregnancy (but not in diabetes caused by pregnancy).

This list has some things in common with that for diabetic kidney disease.

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use

© Copyright 1998 - 2009 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved