Stages And Treatment Of Diabetic Retinopathy

By Cynthia Gibson


A big number of people around the world are affected by the dangerous disease that is diabetes. A person can live long with the disease if they learn of it at an early stage and decide to maintain sugar levels of their body where recommended by the doctor. They can end up dying on the other hand if they do not manage it properly. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that develops from having the ailment.

This is a condition that occurs when the retina of the eye gets damaged due to diabetes. The blood vessels of the tissue sensitive to light found at the back of the eye are affected by high blood sugar levels. The effect may be the vessels swelling, leaking or growth of new abnormal ones. All these can lead to permanent loss of sight if not looked into.

This condition is characterized by two significant stages that are experienced by everyone who has the ailment diabetes in Bethesda, MD. Diabetic blindness starts slowly giving no signs to the sick one while at other points his or her vision may be affected mildly which after sometime cause total loss of sight. Someone who discovers this problem early and fights it immediately stands a better chance of retaining their vision and the best way to do so is have regular eye tests.

The first stage that a patient undergoes is known as the non-proliferative stage. This is where very little or no symptoms are shown. Most people at this point only have blurry vision and seeing images that are distorted or darkened. These images also look different in both eyes, main cause of it being blood vessels leaking, making the retina swell. The swelling is known as macular edema.

At the same non-proliferative level of the condition, an occurrence known as macular ischemia happens. This is where blood vessels are blocked thereby stopping flow into macula. Exudates, tiny particles sometimes are formed in the retina. To determine this first stage, specialists use a fundus photography process to see leakages and blockages in the blood vessels.

The medical term for second stage of this condition is proliferative stage. It is more advanced than the first one with a different occurrence. New blood vessels that are very fragile grow in retina of the eye. Neovascularization is the name of such occurrence. These abnormal vessels bleed in vitreous. The level of damage depends on how much the bleeding is. Much causes total block of sight while little just causes dark floaters. They are also responsible for scar tissue formation and retina detach.

When a patient reaches the proliferative stage he or she might lose both central and side vision. It can also be determined by a funduscopic exam as the first level. Upon diagnosis, there are three major ways that are used by doctors in Bethesda, MD to effectively control the condition and prevent complete loss of vision. The methods of treatment are very effective when administered before the retina is completely damaged.

These methods are, eye corticosteroids injections, vitrectomy and laser surgery. These methods help to prevent one from becoming blind but they do not cure completely. It is thus advised that one should live right to manage diabetes, living right and taking tests for early diagnosis and treatment.




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