Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes.The cells of the retina become damaged. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by a change in the retina’s blood vessels. The retina is the thin, inner lining in the back of the eye that is light sensitive. The damage is caused by an increase in blood glucose which can harm blood vessels. When these blood vessels thicken, they can develop leaks, which can then lead to vision loss.
The Four Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy :-
The four stages of diabetic retinopathy are classified as mild, moderate, severe nonproliferative and proliferative.
1) In the first stage, mild nonproliferative, there will be balloon-like swelling in small areas of the blood vessels in the retina.
2) In the second stage, known as moderate nonproliferative retinopathy, some of the blood vessels in the retina will become blocked.
3) The third stage, severe nonproliferative retinopathy brings with it more blocked blood vessels, which leads to areas of the retina no longer receiving adequate blood flow. Without proper blood flow, the retina can’t grow new blood vessels to replace the damaged ones.
4) The fourth and final stage is known as proliferative retinopathy. This is the advanced stage of the disease. Additional new blood vessels will begin to grow in the retina, but they will be fragile and abnormal. Because of this, they can leak blood which will lead to vision loss and possibly blindness.
Early Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy :-
• floaters
• blurriness
• dark areas of vision and difficulty
• Eye pain
• Difficulty in perceiving colours.
• Blindness can occur.
Visual disorders :-
• vision disorder,
• blurred vision,
• distorted vision,
• impaired colour vision,
• seeing spots,
• vision loss.
Disease prevention :-
• If you have been diabetic for a long time and you are having vision problems since long then do get test your eyes every three months.
• Abstain from drugs, especially tobacco and don’t consume alcohol at all.
• To control high blood pressure, be sure to consult a doctor.
• Make sure to include vitamin-A rich things in your diet.
Treatment :-
1) Treatment consists of diet modifications and insulin. Mild cases may be treated with careful diabetes management. Advanced cases may require laser treatment or surgery.
2) Self care :-
a) Blood sugar management :-
Work on to keep the sugar level in normal range through diet, exercises or medications.
b) Diabetic diets :-
Diet that helps diabetics control their blood sugar by reducing sugar and carbohydrates, like drinking less soda and eating less bread.
3) Surgery :-
a) Vitrectomy – Surgical removal of the clear, jelly-like substance (vitreous gel) that fills the inside of the eye.
b) Laser coagulation – Using heat from a laser to seal off bleeding blood vessels.
c) Laser surgery – Surgery using an intensely hot and focused beam of light to remove tissue and control bleeding.
4) Medication :-
a) VEGFR inhibitor – Prevents the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
b) Steroid – Modifies or simulates hormone effects, often to reduce inflammation or for tissue growth and repair.
