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Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye producing changes called Diabetic Retinopathy.
If the retina is damaged by diabetic retinopathy, some patches of your vision won’t be able to send electrical impulses to your brain and vision is reduced.
In the retina itself, diabetes causes the walls of the smallest blood vessels to weaken, resulting in balloon-like bulges called micro-aneurysms. Bleeding from these tiny blood vessels (retinal hemorrhages) or leakage of fats (hard exudates) and fluid (retinal oedema) into the surrounding tissues may occur. If this leakage of fluid into the retinal tissue occurs at the central part of the retina (macula oedema), vision will be reduced.
Where lifestyle factors are not managed well enough, early signs of diabetic retinopathy progress to the more severe forms proliferative retinopathy. If untreated, 50% of those affected will suffer serious visual loss. This stage is marked by the growth of very fine delicate new blood vessels (neovascularisation) which bleed very easily. This bleeding causes varying amounts of visual loss and the likelihood of vision returning is uncertain.
Bleeding results in the formation of scar tissue which can contract and pull away the retina (retinal detachment). This is a serious sight threatening condition that must be treated promptly in order to minimise how much sight is lost.
Your optometrist can provide a comprehensive eye examination at any time. It is important that you do not wait until you notice problems with your eyes before having them examined. Sometimes diabetic changes may be well advanced before this happens and too difficult to treat.
If you have diabetes, it is important that you have an eye examination every two years. Your optometrist will let you know if you need your eyes examined more often. Newly diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes should have an examination when first diagnosed.
For diabetic retinopathy that threatens vision a referral to an Ophthalmologist for Laser Treatment is necessary. The micro laser seals the leaky blood vessels in the retina. This can also limit new blood vessel growth to avoid future damage and vision loss.
Early detection of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy is extremely important so that laser treatment can be done at the optimum time.
The best prevention is optimal control of your diabetes.
Kiwi's know that good things take time, so come to us, have the tests done without feeling that you have been "rushed thru", and you'll know what we mean when we say "we take the time!"
Book appointmentKiwi's know that good things take time, so come to us, have the tests done without feeling that you have been "rushed thru", and you'll know what we mean when we say "we take the time!"
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