Facts About Diabetic Retinopathy And Treatment Options

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Diabetics are prone to all sorts of secondary medical conditions. Perhaps the scariest of all is the potential to lose their eyesight due to diabetic retinopathy. If you're a diabetic or know someone who is, please read on to learn about the cause, symptoms, and treatment options for this insidious disease.

How serious is diabetic retinopathy? It is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in the United States. Diabetic retinopathy is usually the result of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. This disease can be categorized in two ways: non-proliferative and proliferative.

In non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the disease begins when the tiny blood vessels in the eyes begin to break down, eventually leaking fluid and blood into the patient's retinas. The presence of this leakage results in vision loss. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy starts out the same way, but continues to get worse as new blood vessels are grown to replace the ones that have withered and died. This abnormal growth occurs inside the eye, and also results in vision loss.

Diabetic retinopathy hinders the eyesight of about 24,000 people each year. Luckily, it can be prevented and even treated. Regular eye exams are a necessity for diabetics. By examining your eyes, doctors can detect the presence of the disease and chart its progression. Without regular exams, many patients dont realize they have the disease until it has reached an advanced stage.

Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with an outpatient procedure known as laser photocoagulation. While it does not restore vision, it does seal leaking blood vessels, preventing them from filling the eye with fluid. Vitrectomy surgery is another option. The doctor administers anesthesia, then removes the patients vitreous fluid. The bloody, clouded fluid is then replaced with a clear saline gel that restores and retains the eyes natural shape and pressure.

Eyesight is one of the many gifts that diabetes can steal away. If you suffer from diabetes, be sure to have your eyes examined regularly. If you're concerned about diabetic retinopathy, talk to your doctor about your medical condition and risks.

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