Diabetic Retinopathy
Introduction
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in the retina that is caused by Diabetes. The retina is located at the back of your eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the most frequent type of diabetes-related eye complication and a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Untreated diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy may be prevented with strict control of blood sugar levels and blood pressure. People with diabetes should receive regular eye examinations. Early detection and treatment is the best way to prevent vision loss.
Anatomy
The vision process occurs as light rays enter the front of your eye and are interpreted by your brain as images. Light rays first enter your eye through the cornea, a clear dome that helps your eyes focus.
The anterior chamber is located behind the cornea and in front of the iris. The anterior chamber is filled with a fluid that maintains eye pressure, nourishes the eye, and keeps it healthy.
The iris is the colored part of your eye. The iris contains two sets of muscles. The muscles work to make the pupil of your eye larger or smaller. The pupil is the black circle in the center of your iris. It changes size to allow more or less light to enter your eye.
After light comes through the pupil, it enters the lens. The lens is a clear curved disc. Muscles adjust the curve in the lens to focus clear images on the retina. The retina is located at the back of your eye.
Your inner eye, or the space between the posterior chamber behind the lens and the retina, is the vitreous body. It is filled with a clear gel substance that gives the eye its shape. Light rays pass through the gel on their way from the lens to the retina.
The anterior chamber is located behind the cornea and in front of the iris. The anterior chamber is filled with a fluid that maintains eye pressure, nourishes the eye, and keeps it healthy.
The iris is the colored part of your eye. The iris contains two sets of muscles. The muscles work to make the pupil of your eye larger or smaller. The pupil is the black circle in the center of your iris. It changes size to allow more or less light to enter your eye.
After light comes through the pupil, it enters the lens. The lens is a clear curved disc. Muscles adjust the curve in the lens to focus clear images on the retina. The retina is located at the back of your eye.
Your inner eye, or the space between the posterior chamber behind the lens and the retina, is the vitreous body. It is filled with a clear gel substance that gives the eye its shape. Light rays pass through the gel on their way from the lens to the retina.
The retina is a thin tissue layer that contains millions of nerve cells. The nerve cells are sensitive to light. Cones and rods are specialized receptor cells. Cones are specialized for color vision and detailed vision, such as for reading or identifying distant objects. Rods perceive blacks, whites, and grays, but not colors. They detect general shapes. Rods are used for night vision and peripheral vision. High concentrations of rods at the outer portions of your retina act as motion detectors in your peripheral or side vision.
The greatest concentration of cones is found in the macula and fovea at the center of the retina. The macula is the center of visual attention. The fovea is the site of visual acuity or best visual sharpness.
The receptor cells in the retina send nerve messages about what you see to the optic nerve. The optic nerves extend from the back of each eye and join together in the brain at the optic chiasm. The optic chiasm is the place where the optic nerves from the right and left eye meet and cross one another. From the optic chiasm, the nerve signals travel along two optic tracts in the brain and eventually to the occipital cortex.
The receptor cells in the retina send nerve messages about what you see to the optic nerve. The optic nerves extend from the back of each eye and join together in the brain at the optic chiasm. The optic chiasm is the place where the optic nerves from the right and left eye meet and cross one another. From the optic chiasm, the nerve signals travel along two optic tracts in the brain and eventually to the occipital cortex.
Causes
Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy. People with high blood pressure and diabetes have a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. High blood pressure, poorly controlled blood sugar levels, and the length of time a person has had diabetes are related to the potential extent of diabetic retinopathy and vision loss.
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative and proliferative. Nonproliferative retinopathy, also called background retinopathy, develops first. In this stage, high blood sugar levels damage the walls of the small blood vessels in the retina. The blood vessels become weak and leak. The leaking fluid may lead to retina swelling or deposit formation. Nonproliferative retinopathy can cause macula edema and macula ischemia. Macula edema is swelling of the macula that can result in central vision loss. Macula ischemia results when the blood vessels close and cannot supply blood to the macula. This may cause blurred vision because the macula does not receive enough blood.
Proliferative retinopathy is a more advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy. This results when there is a widespread closure of retinal blood vessels. The growth of new abnormal blood vessels is then triggered. The new blood vessels attempt, but are unable to resupply the retina with blood. Proliferative retinopathy can cause both central and peripheral vision loss. Bleeding, retinal detachment, or glaucoma may cause vision loss. Bleeding results when the new blood vessels bleed into the eye. Retinal detachment may develop from shrinking scar tissue that pulls the retina from its normal position. These scars form in the eye from recurrent bleeds. This can cause severe vision loss if the macula or large portions of the retina are affected. Glaucoma results from increased eye pressure that can occur if abnormal blood vessels grow and block fluid drainage. The increase in inner eye pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve and blindness.
There are two types of diabetic retinopathy, nonproliferative and proliferative. Nonproliferative retinopathy, also called background retinopathy, develops first. In this stage, high blood sugar levels damage the walls of the small blood vessels in the retina. The blood vessels become weak and leak. The leaking fluid may lead to retina swelling or deposit formation. Nonproliferative retinopathy can cause macula edema and macula ischemia. Macula edema is swelling of the macula that can result in central vision loss. Macula ischemia results when the blood vessels close and cannot supply blood to the macula. This may cause blurred vision because the macula does not receive enough blood.
Proliferative retinopathy is a more advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy. This results when there is a widespread closure of retinal blood vessels. The growth of new abnormal blood vessels is then triggered. The new blood vessels attempt, but are unable to resupply the retina with blood. Proliferative retinopathy can cause both central and peripheral vision loss. Bleeding, retinal detachment, or glaucoma may cause vision loss. Bleeding results when the new blood vessels bleed into the eye. Retinal detachment may develop from shrinking scar tissue that pulls the retina from its normal position. These scars form in the eye from recurrent bleeds. This can cause severe vision loss if the macula or large portions of the retina are affected. Glaucoma results from increased eye pressure that can occur if abnormal blood vessels grow and block fluid drainage. The increase in inner eye pressure can cause damage to the optic nerve and blindness.
Symptoms
There are often no symptoms during the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Poor night vision may be one of the first symptoms. Other early symptoms include changes in your vision. You may experience “floaters” or specs in your field of vision, blurred vision, color abnormality, or vision loss. It is very important that you have an eye examination when you experience a vision change. Floaters and blurred vision may be a sign of proliferative retinopathy. Early diagnosis and treatment is associated with the best outcomes.
Diagnosis
You should contact your doctor immediately if you suddenly experience vision changes. In general, people with diabetes should receive a comprehensive eye examination each year. More frequent examinations may be necessary after the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. Pregnant women should schedule an appointment in their first trimester. Diabetic retinopathy can progress quickly during pregnancy.
Your doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough eye examination. He or she will look for blood vessel leakage or damage, macular edema (retina swelling), and damaged nerve tissue. The pressure inside of your eye will be measured. A vision test will be used to determine how well you see at different distances.
In some cases, a fluorescein angiogram is used to detect blood circulation problems in the retina and choroid. The test uses an injected dye and a special camera to take photos of the blood vessels in the eye vascular structures. Fluorescein angiography is a simple and short test that is performed in your doctor’s office.
Your doctor will review your medical history and perform a thorough eye examination. He or she will look for blood vessel leakage or damage, macular edema (retina swelling), and damaged nerve tissue. The pressure inside of your eye will be measured. A vision test will be used to determine how well you see at different distances.
In some cases, a fluorescein angiogram is used to detect blood circulation problems in the retina and choroid. The test uses an injected dye and a special camera to take photos of the blood vessels in the eye vascular structures. Fluorescein angiography is a simple and short test that is performed in your doctor’s office.
Treatment
Early Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have mild or nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may not need treatment to begin with. However, your eye doctor will closely monitor your eyes to determine when you might need treatment.
If you have mild or nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, you may not need treatment to begin with. However, your eye doctor will closely monitor your eyes to determine when you might need treatment.
The treatment plan for diabetic retinopathy includes strict management of blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. Work with your endocrinologist to see how best to control and manage your blood sugar. When diabetic retinopathy is mild or moderate, good blood sugar control can help slow the progression of the disease.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
If you have proliferative (advanced) diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, you'll need prompt treatment. Depending on the specific problems with your retina, options may include:
If you have proliferative (advanced) diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, you'll need prompt treatment. Depending on the specific problems with your retina, options may include:
Photocoagulation
This laser treatment, also known as focal laser, can stop or slow the leakage of blood and fluid in the eye. During the procedure, leaks from abnormal blood vessels are treated with laser burns.
This laser treatment, also known as focal laser, can stop or slow the leakage of blood and fluid in the eye. During the procedure, leaks from abnormal blood vessels are treated with laser burns.
Focal laser treatment is usually done at the doctor's office in a single session. If you had blurred vision from macular edema before the treatment, your vision may not improve, but the procedure can slow progression of sight loss.
Panretinal Photocoagulation
This laser treatment, also known as scatter laser treatment works to shrink or decrease the abnormal blood vessels. During the procedure, the areas of the retina away from the macula are treated with scattered laser burns. The burns cause the abnormal new blood vessels to shrink and scar.
This laser treatment, also known as scatter laser treatment works to shrink or decrease the abnormal blood vessels. During the procedure, the areas of the retina away from the macula are treated with scattered laser burns. The burns cause the abnormal new blood vessels to shrink and scar.
It's also done in your doctor's office while in a seated position in two or more sessions. Your vision will be blurry for a day or so after the procedure. Many people experience a loss of peripheral vision after this procedure, and night vision can become worse, making it more difficult to drive in darkness.
Vitrectomy
This procedure involves making a very small incision in your eye to remove blood from the middle of the eye (vitreous) as well as scar tissue that's pulling on the retina. It's done in a surgery center or hospital using local anesthesia with sedation. General anesthesia may sometimes be used. It is usually an out-patient procedure.
This procedure involves making a very small incision in your eye to remove blood from the middle of the eye (vitreous) as well as scar tissue that's pulling on the retina. It's done in a surgery center or hospital using local anesthesia with sedation. General anesthesia may sometimes be used. It is usually an out-patient procedure.
Injecting Medicine into the Eye
It may sound barbaric, but many physicians are now injecting medication into the vitreous in the eye. These medications, called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, can help stop growth of new blood vessels by blocking the effects of growth signals the body sends to generate new blood vessels.
It may sound barbaric, but many physicians are now injecting medication into the vitreous in the eye. These medications, called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, can help stop growth of new blood vessels by blocking the effects of growth signals the body sends to generate new blood vessels.
During the injection, the eye is made numb and then a quick injection is given right in the doctor’s office.
Your doctor may recommend these medications, also called anti-VEGF therapy, as a stand-alone treatment instead of laser, or in combination with panretinal photocoagulation. While studies of anti-VEGF therapy in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy are promising, this approach is not yet considered standard.
Even after treatment for diabetic retinopathy, you'll need regular check-ups with your eye doctor and may require repeated treatments.
Prevention
Good control of blood glucose is crucial to prevent diabetic retinopathy as is control of blood pressure. One test that is frequently used to measure control is the Hemoglobin A1C test. This is usually done every few months by your doctor.
Complications
One of the complications of laser treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy is loss of some of your night vision from the treated eye and a possible defect in your visual field. Surgery can be complicated by recurrent bleeding or redetachment of the retina.
Advancements
Recently certain drugs have been used to control edema and proliferative retinopathy. These drugs are injected directly into the eye in a painless procedure. Cortisone is one drug that is used to decrease swelling in the macula, and a new family of drugs called Anti VEGF drugs are used to control proliferation. Oral versions of the anti VEGF drugs are under development.
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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
