BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy: regular retinal checks matter even without symptoms
About
What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?
A silent thief of vision
A serious complication in which diabetes damages the blood vessels of the retina, causing swelling and bleeding. The longer you have diabetes, the more sharply the risk rises, and if left untreated it can lead to blindness. Even without early symptoms, anyone diagnosed with diabetes should have a detailed eye exam once a year to prevent blindness.
BSM Eye Clinic
BSM Eye Clinic
BSM Eye Clinic
Causes of Diabetic Retinopathy
A serious complication in which diabetes damages the blood vessels of the retina, causing swelling and bleeding. The longer you have diabetes, the more sharply the risk rises, and if left untreated it can lead to blindness. Even without early symptoms, anyone diagnosed with diabetes should have a detailed eye exam once a year to prevent blindness.
Could I Have Diabetic Retinopathy?
If you have any of the following symptoms, visit an eye clinic right away for a detailed eye examination.
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Blurred vision
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Decreased vision
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Difficulty telling colors apart and dim vision
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Dark spots that move as your gaze shifts
Types of Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy includes macular edema, in which the macula swells and vision declines, and non-proliferative and proliferative stages based on the condition of the blood vessels. Once it passes the early non-proliferative stage and reaches the proliferative stage, where new blood vessels form, the risk of blindness becomes very high. That is why it is important to identify the current stage accurately through regular checkups and manage it.
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Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
An early stage in which vascular damage is limited to the inside of the retina.
If macular edema or bleeding occurs, vision can drop sharply,
so blood sugar and blood pressure must be carefully controlled
to prevent progression to the proliferative stage. -
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
A dangerous stage in which abnormal new blood vessels form on the retina.
Ruptured vessels can cause serious complications such as vitreous hemorrhage,
retinal detachment and glaucoma, leading to sudden blindness,
so prompt treatment is essential.
Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy
The key to treating diabetic retinopathy is to prevent progression to the proliferative stage, where the risk of blindness is high, or to complications such as glaucoma, preserving your current vision as much as possible. Depending on the condition, laser treatment or vitrectomy is performed, and when macular edema, the main cause of vision loss, is present, intravitreal injection is given first priority to protect vision.
Treatment 01
Antibody injection treatment
An antibody that suppresses the growth of abnormal new blood vessels is injected directly into the eye to stop bleeding and restore vision. It is a short procedure of about 5 minutes, safe regardless of your overall health, and an effective modern treatment even when laser treatment is difficult.
Treatment 02
Laser photocoagulation
A laser is applied to areas of the retina that lack oxygen to address the underlying cause of new blood vessel growth. It prevents serious complications such as vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment, and is an essential treatment to prevent blindness when the disease has progressed.
Treatment 03
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is a precise surgery that cleans the inside of the eye by directly removing vitreous gel clouded by bleeding and proliferative membranes pressing on the retina. It is performed in urgent situations such as bleeding that does not clear on its own or tractional retinal detachment, and careful surgery by an experienced ophthalmologist is essential to prevent blindness. Depending on the patient’s condition, laser photocoagulation may be performed during surgery to maximize the results.
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Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy
Anyone with diabetes is at risk, so strict blood sugar control is the most important step. Stable blood sugar management plays a decisive role in delaying the onset and slowing progression. Even without symptoms, regular fundus exams are the best way to protect your vision.
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1 Regular eye checkups every 6 months
People with diabetes need a checkup once a year, and those with diabetic retinopathy at least every 6 months. Retinal damage is difficult to reverse, so early detection matters most; if you notice any change in your vision, visit your doctor right away.
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2 Strict blood sugar control
Along with regular checkups, everyday blood sugar control is central to managing the condition. Checking your blood sugar at least 3 times a day and keeping levels stable can reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy by 76% or more.
Diabetic Retinopathy Q&A
We’ve gathered the key questions patients ask most often before starting care at BSM Eye Clinic.
Q.
Does everyone with diabetes develop diabetic retinopathy?
A.
Not everyone with diabetes develops diabetic retinopathy, but the risk increases the longer you have diabetes and as you age. Studies have shown that 20 years after diabetes onset, retinopathy develops in 99% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 60% of those with type 2. Once diabetic retinopathy develops, symptoms are unlikely to improve even if the diabetes is controlled, and it is reported to cause blindness in 86% of type 1 and 33% of type 2 cases, so special attention is needed.
Q.
What happens if diabetic retinopathy is left untreated?
A.
Diabetic retinopathy often causes no noticeable symptoms until it is quite advanced. It begins as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and if left untreated at this stage it usually progresses to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina, causing bleeding within the retina and secondary complications such as retinal detachment, which can eventually lead to blindness, so caution is needed.
Q.
What tests are used to diagnose diabetic retinopathy?
A.
We first measure your vision to see whether diabetic retinopathy has reduced it, then dilate your pupils and examine the retina with a slit lamp. If needed, fluorescein angiography (a test using a special camera to photograph the retina so the retinal blood vessels can be seen clearly) and OCT (optical coherence tomography) may also be performed to check how far the disease has progressed.
Q.
Are there precautions for exercise with diabetic retinopathy?
A.
Moderate exercise helps manage diabetes and improves blood flow, which can have a positive effect on both diabetes and retinopathy. However, with severe diabetic retinopathy, high-intensity exercise can lead to retinal bleeding and increase the risk of blindness, so strenuous exercise should be avoided. Aerobic exercise such as running, cycling and swimming is appropriate, and you should discuss the intensity of exercise with your doctor beforehand.
Q.
Is it safe to become pregnant with diabetic retinopathy?
A.
Diabetes can adversely affect both the mother and the baby during pregnancy, so women with diabetes should plan pregnancy carefully. The longer the mother has had diabetes, the higher the risk of diabetic retinopathy, so women with diabetes should have a comprehensive eye exam before pregnancy. During pregnancy, have an eye exam within the first 3 months, then every 3 months throughout the pregnancy, and continue checkups for up to 1 year after giving birth.