1) What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus that occurs due to damage to the eye’s blood vessels. It is one of the main causes of blindness in young and middle-aged adults today.
2) What causes this?
Diabetic Retinopathy is caused due to an increase in damage in the retina’s blood vessels, due to lack of blood sugar control.
3) Am I at risk?
Diabetic Retinopathy has a greater chance of occurring among individuals suffering from all kinds of diabetes. Apart from this, those who smoke, or have high blood pressure can also develop Diabetic Retinopathy.
4) How can I prevent this?
Diabetic Retinopathy cannot be fully prevented, but if detected early, vision loss can, be through regular eye check-ups every once a year, and by making healthy lifestyle changes by keeping blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control.
5) When do I know I am facing a diabetic retinopathy?
If you are experiencing loss of central vision while reading, loss of ability to see color or mild blurry vision, you might have Diabetic Retinopathy.
6) Diagnosis and treatment
- Eye Dilation exam: Diabetic Macular Edema is diagnosed through an eye dilation exam in which eye drops are inserted to expand your pupils to allow a better look within.
- Fluorescein Angiography: Then, a dye is injected through your arm, which travels through your eye’s blood vessels and produces images.
- Optical Coherence Tomography: Finally, the OCT test is taken to monitor the thickness of your retina and any fluid leakage.
In most cases, laser surgery can prevent significant vision loss caused by Diabetic retinopathy.
7) Types of diabetic retinopathy
There are 2 types of Diabetic Retinopathy:
- Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: This is an early level in which your small retinal blood vessels weaken, leading to fluid and blood leakage in the retina. At this stage, there is no effect on the vision.
- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: This is an advanced level in which your blood vessels get blocked, and give rise to damaged new blood vessels. At this stage, you might experience loss of vision, optic nerve damage, and blindness.
8) Why visit AKIO for diabetic retinopathy?
AK Institute of Ophthalmology offers treatments like:
Panretinal Photocoagulation (PRP): A laser beam is directed at the retinal tear, which produces burns that will adhere the retina to the underlying tissue. This is used to treat the peripheral retina to prevent or stop the growth of abnormal new blood vessels.
Focal laser: This is used to treat the macula edema to reduce the swelling.
Injections: Medications are injected into your eye to treat this condition.
1) What is Diabetic Macular Edema?
Diabetic Macular Edema is a common complication of Diabetic Retinopathy in which fluid accumulates in the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for sharp vision. This causes the macula to swell and may lead to vision loss. Treatment is crucial for restoring sight.
2) What causes this?
Diabetic Macular Edema is caused due to high blood sugar levels that affect the eye’s blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to leak, resulting in a build-up of fluid into the retina which causes it to thicken.
3) Am I at risk?
Diabetic Macular Edema has a greater chance of occurring among diabetic individuals.
4) How can I prevent this?
Diabetic Macular Edema can be prevented by managing diabetes and making healthy lifestyle changes to keep your blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels under control. It also helps to get regular eye exams for early treatment.
5) When do I know I am facing a Diabetic Macular Edema?
If you are experiencing blurry vision, dark spots, difficulty seeing with glares, floaters, or redness in the eye, you might have Diabetic Macular Edema.
6) Diagnosis and treatment
Eye Dilation exam: Diabetic Macular Edema is diagnosed through an eye dilation exam in which eye drops are inserted to expand your pupils to allow a better look within.
Fluorescein Angiography: Then, a dye is injected through your arm, which travels through your eye’s blood vessels and produces images.
Optical Coherence Tomography: Finally, the OCT test is taken to monitor the thickness of your retina and any fluid leakage.
7) Types of Diabetic Macular Edema
There are 2 types of Diabetic Macular Edema:
- Center-involved DME: This is when your retina swells in the macula or central part.
- Non-center involved DME: This is when the retinal swelling in the macula doesn’t involve the central part.
8) Why visit AKIO for Diabetic Macular Edema?
AK Institute of Ophthalmology offers treatments like:
- Laser Photocoagulation: Laser beam is directed at the retinal tear, which produces burns that will adhere the retina to the underlying tissue.
- Injections: Medications are injected into your eye to treat this condition.
