What is Diabetic Eye Disease?
The retina is a light sensitive layer that lines the inner surface of the back of the eye and acts like a camera film to capture light. The light that reaches the retina forms an image which is sent to, and interpreted by, our brain – this is how we see. The macula is the most sensitive area of the retina , and is responsible for our detailed central vision.
In patients with diabetes, tiny blood vessels in the retina may become damaged, compromising the retinal circulation in a process known as diabetic eye disease. This is usually slow and occurs over months or years, and is one of the most common causes of vision loss among diabetic patients.
The duration and severity of diabetes determines the risk and extent of diabetic eye disease. All patients with diabetes are at risk, regardless of whether they are insulin dependent.
There are two types of diabetic eye disease: retinopathy describes damage to the peripheral retina, and maculopathy refers to damage to the macula (and hence central vision).
Stages and Symptoms
Stages
There are two stages of diabetic retinopathy:
- Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy – early stage
- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy – late stage
In the early stage, you may not have any symptoms and your vision may not yet be affected. Therefore, it is vitally important to have regular eye check-ups if you suffer from diabetes, even if you don’t have symptoms. At this stage, the diseased retinal blood vessels can become leaky, causing swelling of the retina. If this swelling involves the macula, it is called diabetic macular oedema and is the most common cause of vision loss in diabetic patients.
In later stages of retinopathy, abnormal new blood vessels start to grow within and on the diseased retina. These abnormal blood vessels have thin, fragile walls and can easily leak or bleed, leading to scar tissue formation. These problems can cause severe damage to the retina which will invariably lead to irreversible vision loss if not detected early and managed properly.
Symptoms of Diabetic Eye Disease
- Decreased vision or frequent changes to your glasses prescription
- Blurry and/or distorted vision – for example, straight lines appear wavy
- Increase in floaters – wiggly lines of dark spots
- Sudden, painless loss of vision or cloudy vision if bleeding becomes severe
- Patient may experience little to no symptoms in early stages
Patients in the early stages of diabetic eye disease may only require regular eye check ups with our clinic. We also work closely with your GP, diabetic educator or endocrinologist to optimise your blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure control which has been proven in large clinical studies to maximise clinical outcome.
At Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists, our doctor uses the latest state-of-the-art precision equipment to assess your eye and retinal blood circulation. Our specialist surgeon will then discuss an individualised treatment plan for your best visual outcome.
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Treatment
Options
Treatment options include:
- Laser to seal off focal leakage and control the non-perfused diseased retina.
- Special injections (anti-VEGF) to slow the growth of new blood vessels and help reduce fluid leakage in retina.
- Surgical procedures are often required to wash out the blood filled eyeball cavity. These are performed in a hospital setting and may be done in conjunction with laser treatment, injections, and/or addressing scar tissue-related complications.
Your Journey
It is important to remember that early treatment will produce a more favourable outcome. At Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists, we recommend that you make an appointment as soon as you are diagnosed with diabetes.
As with all treatment, there are some risks involved which will be discussed with you at your consultation.
More Information
For more information on diabetic eye disease, head to one of the links below
