Diabetic Retinopathy are the changes in the Retina in Diabetes patients.
Normal Retina
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetes can cause Blindness ; Prevent Diabetic Blindness
Retina is the inner most layer of the eye which converts light energy to electric energy and send to brain via optic nerve so that we can visualize this world.
Retina has blood vessels with in. Diabetes causes damage it blood vessels of your body over time. The vessels in the retina when damaged causes leakage of fluid and blood which collects with in the retina. This causes reduced performance of retina leading to blurred vision – This is Diabetic Retinopathy.
With time the vision loss due to this is difficult to regain back. So, prevention of this disease or treatment in early stage can prevent permanent reduced or loss of vision.
All patients who have been diagnosed as diabetes has to undergo dilated pupil Retinal examination to look of Diabetic retinopathy changes and to be reviewed yearly. In early stages on the disease just controlling Systemic parameters (Blood sugars and other like hypertension and kidney issues) will halt the progress of diabetic retinopathy.
Treatment of Diabetic retinopathy: the treatment option for diabetic retinopathy are LASERS, INTRA VITREAL INJECTION and SURGERY. Depending on the stage and response diabetes treatment, one or combination of above treatment is required to prevent and maintain the vision for the patient.
Some indications and treatment of choice:
When there is fluid leak into the macula area – Intravitreal Anti-VEGF
When there are new vessels a stage of Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) – LASER PRP
When there is minimal vitreous haemorrhage - Laser PRP with or without Anti VEGF
When there is vitreous haemorrhage – Anti VEGF with or with LASER PRP with or without surgery
State of disease in each patient is different and how they respond to a particular treat is also different. So, Retinologist (Retina Specialist) need to personalise the treatment with permutation and combination of the above said methods to achieve the desired results.