Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)

These many tiny burns destroy small areas of the retina.

It's carried out in hospital:

It should be painless, although some sensation may be felt.

Usually there are no side effects.

If a lot of laser is required to treat the blood vessels, peripheral (side) vision may be affected.

This may lead to a problem with night vision or interfere with driving.

Proliferative retinopathy
When abnormal blood vessels form, laser treatment is used to make the vessels 'regress' or go away.

The laser isn't used on the blood vessels directly, but is scattered over the whole retina (pan retinal photocoagulation).

This destroys the area of retina that is starved of oxygen, eliminating the need for the abnormal vessels.

Surgery
In rare cases eye surgery is necessary.

This may be done:

This type of surgery is called vitrectomy. It involves removing the vitreous (jelly) from the back of the eye. During the process bleeding is also removed.

Laser treatment may be applied at the time of the operation.

In the long term
If diabetic retinopathy has been diagnosed, and provided it hasn't reached an advanced stage, good control of blood sugar will prevent it from developing further.

So keep your blood sugar level as near normal as possible, and have regular annual check-ups by a hospital diabetologist and ophthalmologist. It's also important your blood pressure is well controlled.

Many high street opticians are now involved in shared-care arrangements for diabetes. Photographs of the retina can be taken with special cameras and allow detailed examination.

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