Diabetic Retinopathy Specialist

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequently occurring type of diabetic eye disease, and it’s one of the main causes of vision loss in American adults. 

All diabetes sufferers can be vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy, particularly if they don’t adequately manage their blood sugar and blood pressure. 

Diabetic retinopathy develops when the blood vessels in your eye retinas sustain damage from lack of oxygen and nutrients. Although this disease can have frightening effects, your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist can help you maximize your vision if you reach out for help.

What are the types of diabetic retinopathy?

There are two main types of diabetic retinopathy. With your ophthalmologist’s help, you may be able to halt the progression of the disease.

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

In non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, your damaged retinal blood vessels leak fluid, which triggers retinal swelling. If your macula, the central part of the retina, swells, it’s known as macular edema. 

Your blood vessels might also seal off, which prevents blood from nourishing your macula to cause macular ischemia. 

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy typically causes blurry vision. If non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy goes untreated and diabetes uncontrolled, the disease can grow more serious, becoming proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the more severe form of diabetic retinopathy. It occurs when neovascularization — a growth of abnormal new blood vessels — starts within your retina. The abnormal blood vessels are particularly delicate, and often leak blood into the vitreous around the retina. 

Minimal leakage can cause symptoms like floaters in your visual field, but significant blood vessel leakage can completely steal your vision. Additionally, the abnormal blood vessels might trigger new scar tissue growth. This can cause macula edema, or potentially detached retina. 

No matter which stage of diabetic retinopathy you’re suffering from, there are treatments from Retina Specialists that can help. With diabetic retinopathy, the fastest possible treatment is always beneficial.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

Your diabetic retinopathy treatment at Retina Specialists depends on your eye health, the stage of the disease, and your coexisting eye conditions. Medical control of your diabetes is vital. 

The Retina Specialists team recommends working with your primary care doctor or diabetes specialist closely. 

Intraocular injections of medication like anti-VEGF drugs can reduce swelling, slow down vision deterioration, and possibly improve vision. Laser surgery can seal harmful blood vessels to reduce swelling and prevent regrowth.

For advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may need surgery like a vitrectomy. In this procedure, your Retina Specialists ophthalmologist takes the damaged vitreous gel, blood vessels, and scar tissue out of your eye to allow normal retina focus.

For diabetic retinopathy help from true retina experts, call Retina Specialists or book online now.