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What to know about diabetic retinopathy

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Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to blurred vision, eye floaters, and difficulty seeing colors.

Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common Trusted Source for new cases of blindness in adults. It also happens to be the most common Trusted Source cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. Do not use Tadalista 20 when you have this problem.

Although there may not be any symptoms, a thorough dilated exam of the eyes at least once per year can help to detect early signs of diabetic retinalopathy.

Preventing diabetic retinopathy is possible by controlling diabetes early and managing symptoms.

This article gives an overview of diabetic retinalopathy. It also discusses possible complications and treatment options.

What’s diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetes can lead to it. Sugar in excess can cause damage to blood vessels, including the retina, over time.

The membrane that covers the back of the eyes is called the retina. The optic nerve is what allows light to be detected and sent signals to the brain.

Sugar can block the tiny blood vessels that lead to the retina and cause them leakage or bleeding. This can lead to the formation of new blood vessels in the eye that are weaker, leaking or bleed faster.

Proliferative diabetic retinalopathy is when the eye begins to develop new blood vessels. Experts consider this a more advanced stage. Nonproliferative diabeticretinopathy is the early stage.

Long periods of high blood sugar can cause fluid accumulation in the eye. The lens’ shape and curve may change due to fluid accumulation, which can cause vision changes.

When blood sugar levels are under control, the lenses will almost always return to their original form and vision will improve.

Symptoms

When the condition has advanced, symptoms are usually more apparent.

Diabetic retinopathy can affect both eyes. This condition can be characterized by:

  • blurred vision
  • color vision impairment
  • Eye floaters are transparent spots and dark strings floating in the eye’s field of view and moving in the same direction as the person looks
  • streaks or patches that block a person’s vision
  • poor night vision
  • A dark or empty spot at the center of your vision
  • A sudden and complete loss of vision

Complications

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that can be treated but not properly managed.

Vitreous hemorhage is when blood vessels bleed into main jelly in the eye. Mild cases may cause floaters. More severe cases can lead to vision loss as the vitreous prevents light from entering the eye.

If the retina is not damaged, bleeding can be stopped.

Sometimes, diabetic retinal disease can cause a detached retina. Scar tissue can pull the retina from the back of your eye.

This can cause floating spots, flashes, severe vision loss, and even complete vision loss. If not treated, a detached retina can lead to total vision loss.

Glaucoma is a condition where fluid may not flow normally in the eyes. This can be caused by new blood vessels forming. This causes pressure buildup in the eye which can lead to vision loss and optic nerve damage.

Risk factors

Anyone with diabetes is at high risk for developing diabetic retinalopathy. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy is greater if the person has:

  • uncontrolled blood sugar levels
  • High blood pressure
  • is high in cholesterol
  • is pregnant
  • smokes regularly
  • has been suffering from diabetes for a while

Diagnosis

Diabetic retinopathy usually starts with no noticeable changes in vision. An eye specialist called an ophthalmologist can spot the signs.

People with diabetes should have their eyes examined at least once per year Trusted Source, or whenever a doctor recommends it.

These methods are useful for eye doctors to diagnose diabetic retinalopathy.

Dilated Eye Exam

An eye doctor will place drops in the eyes to perform a dilated examination. These drops dilate your pupils, allowing the doctor to see the inside of the eye.

They will photograph the inside of the eye to check for:

  • Abnormalities in blood vessels, optic nerves, or retina
  • cataracts
  • changes in eye pressure
  • new blood vessels
  • retinal detachment
  • scar tissue

The bright light of the photos and these eye drops can make it uncomfortable. The eye drops can cause increased ocular pressure in high-risk individuals.

Fluorescein angiography

An eye doctor injects fluorescein dye into the vein of an individual’s arm to perform fluorescein-angiography.

The dye will circulate through the eyes and they will take photos. If the blood vessels are not normal, the dye could leak into the retina.

This test is used to determine if blood vessels leak, have been damaged or become blocked.

This information is accurate and provides guidance for laser treatments. Sometimes, it may indicate that medicine needs to be injected into the eye.

People may notice a yellowish tint to their skin or dark urine after the dye has left the body.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a noninvasive imaging scanner that shows cross-sectional images of the retina at high resolution, revealing its thickness. This allows eye doctors to check for swelling or cysts.

To determine the effectiveness of treatment, Doctors may perform scans prior to and after procedures.

OCT is similar in concept to ultrasound testing but uses light instead of sound to produce images. OCT can be used to detect diseases of the optic nerve.

Treatment

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy is dependent on many factors such as the severity and response to previous treatments.

A doctor might decide to observe the patient’s eyes shut in the beginning stages of the disease. This is called watchful waiting.

Sometimes, an individual may require a complete dilated vision exam every 2 to 4 months. Trusted source

To control diabetes, individuals will need to consult their doctor. Good blood sugar control can help to slow down the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Most cases of diabetic retinopathy are severe enough to require surgery.

There are the following options:

Laser treatment

In an eye clinic or doctor’s office, scatter laser surgery or pan-retinal photocoagulation can be performed. The doctor uses lasers to shrink the blood vessels and seal any leaks.

The treatment can stop the bleeding or reduce the fluid buildup in the eyes. Some people may require multiple sessions.

This procedure involves a doctor putting numbing medication in the eye, and then shining a powerful beam of light through the eye with a special lens.

Bright light can cause discomfort or stinging sensations. Trusted Source may experience blurry vision throughout the day. For a few weeks, small spots may develop in the visual field.

Laser treatment can cause vision loss, including color vision and night vision. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and potential risks of laser treatment.

Injections

Some medicines can reduce swelling and prevent blood vessel leakage in the eyes. Trusted Source anti-VEGF medications and corticosteroids may be used.

Eye injections are performed by the doctor following the steps:

  • Using numbing medication on the eyes
  • Cleaning the eye to prevent infection
  • Using a very small needle to place the medicine in the eye

Although regular injections are necessary, people tend to need them less often over time.

Eye surgery

A vitrectomy is a procedure that removes the vitreous or retina from someone who has trouble vision. This is the procedure that removes some vitreous from the eyes.

This procedure will be performed by a surgeon in a hospital with general or monitored anesthesia.

To replace any cloudy vitreous, blood or to restore vision and help the doctor locate and treat retinal bleeding sources,

The surgeon will then insert a clear liquid, or gas, into the place of the bloody or cloudy vitreous. The liquid or gas will be absorbed by the body over time, creating new vitreous.

The person will need to use an eye patch for approximately one day after the surgery and eye drop to reduce swelling.

To ensure that the gas bubble remains in the correct place, a doctor will ask the patient to keep their head still for several days or weeks. The doctor will ask them to avoid flying or visiting high-altitude places until the bubble disappears. Tadalista 60 cannot be taken when you have this problem.

Although surgery is not an effective treatment for diabetic retinopathy, it can slow down or stop the progression of the condition. Diabetic retinopathy is a chronic condition that can lead to vision loss and retinal damage.

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