Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the involvement of the retina or the layer of nerves in the back portion of the eye in diabetes.

Who is at more risk for developing diabetic retinopathy?

Development of Diabetic Retinopathy depends on the duration of diabetes, control of blood sugar levels, fluctuating blood sugar levels, and co-existing conditions like pregnancy/ hypertension/ involvement of kidneys/anaemia/ raised cholesterol levels.

What are the stages of diabetic retinopathy?

The basic stages of Diabetic Retinopathy are Non- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

• Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy can be mild/ moderate/ severe/ very severe.
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy can be early/ High risk

The last stage of Diabetic Retinopathy is called Advanced diabetic eye disease

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

Most cases are asymptomatic, i.e. the patient does not notice any abnormalities in visibility, except when the centre of the retina is involved or when there is bleeding into the eye.

Symptoms, when they occur, are- blurred vision/ inability to read small print with glasses/ distortion of central vision/ floaters/ sudden blindness.

How do we manage Diabetic Retinopathy?

Management of Diabetic Retinopathy includes- Control of systemic diseases, i.e. diabetes, hypertension, lipid levels, renal function AND Retina treatment.

To find out the exact stage and to plan treatment, some retina investigations are usually needed. These include Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of the  Macula and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA).

Treatment modalities include- Observation/ Laser therapy/ injections into the eye (intravitreal injections)/ surgery.

The prognosis (treatment outcome) depends on the stage of the disease at which treatment is being done, the duration of the disease and systemic control and compliance of the patient.

Diabetic Retinopathy needs lifelong follow-up with a Retina Specialist and may need repeated treatment as and when needed to stabilize the disease and maintain the vision.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE- All patients with diabetes should get routine Retina check-ups done at least once a year with an Ophthalmologist or Retina specialist.