Diabetic retinopathy, also known as diabetic eye disease, is a systemic disease in which damage occurs to the retina due to diabetes and is a leading cause of blindness. It affects up to 80 percent of people who have had diabetes for 20 years or more. The longer a person has diabetes, the higher his or her chances of developing diabetic retinopathy.
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
Many people with mild diabetic retinopathy have good vision, but there are two types of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
Proliferative Retinopathy
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, the fragile, abnormal blood vessels can develop and leak blood into the center of the eye, blurring vision. This is proliferative retinopathy.
Macular Edema
In other people, fluid can leak into the center of the macula, the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision occurs. The fluid makes the macula swell, blurring vision. This condition is called macular edema.
Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy at Aier East
People with diabetic retinopathy may not notice changes to vision at first. But over time, diabetic retinopathy can get worse and cause vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, nor is there any pain. Therefore regular eye checks are essential for all diabetic patients so signs of diabetic retinopathy can be detected as early as possible.
In managing diabetic retinopathy, Aier East provides three treatments include laser surgery, vitrectomy, anti-VEGF agents injection. With early treatment before the retina is severely damaged, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 95 percent chance of keeping their vision.
