Diabetic Eye Camera

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. Changes in the blood vessels of the retina, the light sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye, can lead to this condition. In some people, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.

While you can’t completely prevent diabetic retinopathy, you can reduce your risk of getting it. Controlling your blood sugar slows the start of retinopathy. It also keeps it from getting worse. It also lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy.

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. Fortunately, diabetic eye disease often can be treated before vision loss occurs. All people with diabetes need a dilated eye exam at least once a year.

Diabetic eye diseases include:

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease in people with diabetes.

In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, you may have no symptoms. This is one of the reasons a regular eye exam is so important. Vision may not change until the disease gets worse. Then you may have blurry or double vision, dark or floating spots, pain or pressure in one or both eyes, rings, flashing lights, or blank spots in your vision.

A condition called macular edema may occur from diabetic retinopathy. It happens when the macula, a part of the retina, swells from the leaking fluid and causes blurred vision. When new vessels grow on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye. This may decrease vision.

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

Even people with advanced retinopathy have a good chance of keeping their vision if they are treated before the retina becomes severely damaged. Treatment for diabetic retinopathy may include:

• Laser surgery. This is often used to treat macular edema and proliferative retinopathy. It includes shrinking the abnormal blood vessels, or sealing the leaking ones.
• Vitrectomy. Vitrectomy is a procedure that involves removing the cloudy, jelly-like substance (vitreous) that fills the center of the eye. The vitreous is replaced with a saline solution.
• Injections. Certain chemicals can be injected into the eye to slow the growth of the abnormal vessels of the retina.

Anyone with diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy. Your risk rises if you have diabetes and you smoke, have high blood pressure, or are pregnant.

Changes in the blood vessels of the retina cause diabetic retinopathy. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina may swell and leak fluid. In others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.