Windy City Retina | Get an Overview on Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a type of eye condition that develops when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessel in the retina. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in working adults, 20-74 years of age. Going for a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year is helpful to detect this eye disorder as diabetic retinopathy doesn't show any symptoms at an early stage.

Know other types of diabetic eye diseases

As we all know that diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss for people with diabetes. But diabetic people can also suffer from other eye conditions:

Cataract

For the patient with diabetes, the chance of getting affected with cataracts is 2 to 5 times.

Open Angel Glaucoma 

In this type of glaucoma, the risk of developing this condition is near doubles among diabetic patients.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diabetic Retinopathy?

Although diabetic retinopathy does not shows any indication at the initial stages. Some of the people may notice some temporally changes in their vision, like trouble in reading detail or seeing faraway objects. But in the later stages of diabetic retinopathy, a blood vessel in the retina starts to bleed into the vitreous. The symptoms of dark, floating spots or streaks that look like cobwebs can appear if this happening. These spots clear up themselves, but it is crucial to get treatment right away. If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated for a long time; then the bleeding can take place again, get worse, or cause scarring.

Diabetic Retinopathy Can Cause Other Problems

About half of people with diabetic retinopathy have chances of getting develop DME. When the condition of DME takes place, the blood vessels in the retina leak fluid and causes swelling in the macula. Due to the excessive fluid in your macula, your vision will become blurry.

Neovascular Glaucoma.

Due to diabetic retinopathy, the abnormal blood vessels grow out of the retina and block fluid from draining out of the eye.

Am I At Risk For Diabetic Retinopathy?

Patients who have any level of diabetes can have diabetic retinopathy — including people with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.   

The risk of getting suffered from diabetic retinopathy increases for diabetic. It is also interesting that there are more than 2 in 5 Americans with diabetes have some stage of diabetic retinopathy. To decrease the risk of diabetic retinopathy, getting control over the diabetes level is helpful.

For women who are suffering from diabetes become pregnant or women who develop gestational diabetes — are at high risk of getting diabetic retinopathy. For pregnant women who have diabetes need to go for a comprehensive dilated eye exam as soon as possible.

How Will My Eye Doctor Check For Diabetic Retinopathy?

Retina specialist Naperville can check for diabetic retinopathy through a dilated eye exam. No need to get worried about this exam as this is a painless procedure —you have given some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil and then check your eyes for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems.

Learn What to Expect From A Dilated Eye Exam

It is good to go for a regular eye exam if you have diabetes as early treatment can stop the damage and prevent blindness.  

A diabetic retinopathy specialist does a test called a fluorescein angiogram to see pictures of the blood vessels in your retina.
Location: Naperville, IL, USA

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