What is Diabetic Retinopathy?Diabetes is one of the top causes of blindness, afflicting millions of Americans. If you are diabetic, there are certain concerns that might affect you and your vision. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease of the retina and may cause a loss of vision if not diagnosed and treated early. Tiny red dots, known as microaneurysms, are small retinal hemorrhages that develop in the eye, and can cause a lack of blood flow. When the eye is lacking blood flow, blood vessels can form in the wrong places in the eye and cause scaring and tearing of the retina, and this can result in vision problems.This eye disease can progress without any symptoms, and the disease can go undetected. It is important to have routine eye exams to check for diabetic retinopathy.
How do I treat my Diabetic Retinopathy?
Laser treatment (photocoagulation) may be an effective treatment for diabetic retinopathy, but it does not cure the disease. It can inhibit, defer, and sometimes reverse vision loss. Without either laser treatment or surgery, vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy and its complications may get worse until blindness occurs. So early treatment is vital to slowing vision loss, which can happen quickly. The best treatment for diabetic eye disease is prevention by keeping blood sugars in control.
Learn more about eye conditions that are treated at BEI, such as glaucoma. Looking for more information about Diabetic Eye Care? Reach out to us at Benjamin Eye Institute .
