Diabetic retinopathy is a disease of the eye Diabetics It develops when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. This causes a variety of symptoms such as blurry vision and vision loss. healthline This progressive disease may lead to irreversible vision loss, so it is important to have regular eye examinations, and then a doctor can diagnose the condition early and slow its progression..
Causes of diabetic retinopathy
Glucose, or blood sugar, is a major source of energy but too much blood circulation in the blood can be harmful to the body. Pancreas The hormone insulin that helps cells absorb glucose for energy, but in the case of diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or does not use it properly, this leads to a build-up of glucose in the blood.
Constant levels of high blood sugar can affect different parts of the body, including the eyes.Diabetic retinopathy not only weakens or damages blood vessels in the eye and can also cause the development of new abnormal blood vessels in the retina..
Stages of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive disease that is classified into two types and four stages:
Stage 1: Mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
This is the first stage of diabetic retinopathy, and it is characterized by small areas of bulging in the blood vessels of the retina, and these areas of swelling are known as a microcurrent.
Small amounts of fluid can leak into the retina at this point, causing the macula to swell.
Stage 2: Mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
The increased swelling in the small blood vessels begins to interfere with blood flow to the retina, preventing proper nutrition and causing blood and other fluid to accumulate in the macula..
Stage 3: severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
A larger portion of the retinal blood vessels are blocked, causing a significant reduction in blood flow to this area and at this point, the body receives signals to start the growth of new blood vessels in the retina..
Stage IV: proliferative diabetic retinopathy
This is an advanced stage of the disease, in which new blood vessels form in the retina of the eye. Since these blood vessels are often fragile, there is a higher risk of fluid leakage, and this leads to various vision problems such as blurring, reduced field of vision, and even blindness..
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy does not usually cause symptoms during the non-proliferative stages, so it is possible to develop it and not know it. This is because blood vessels do not always leak at these stages, and many people do not develop symptoms until the disease progresses to proliferative diabetic retinopathy..
However, an eye exam by an eye care professional or ophthalmologist can detect diabetic retinopathy in its early stages, before symptoms appear..
Symptoms of proliferative diabetic retinopathy include:
Increased number of eye floaters, blurry vision, distorted vision, impaired night vision, vision loss, decreased field of vision, change in colors, symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may usually affect both eyes at the same time.
Methods of treating diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy may lead to irreversible vision loss, but it is treatable. Treatment begins with controlling blood sugar and diabetes. This includes taking diabetes medication as directed, monitoring your diet, and increasing physical activity. Keeping blood sugar within a healthy range can result. To slow the progression of vision loss, other treatments depend on the stage or extent of the disease. If caught early before retinal damage occurs, manage blood sugar.
– .
