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Generality/Definition
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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is progressive damage to the eye's retina caused by long-term diabetes. It can cause blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is caused by damage to blood vessels of the retina. In the earlier and less severe type (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy), the existing blood vessels become porous and leak fluid into the retina, which leads to blurred vision. In the more advanced and severe type (proliferative retinopathy), growth of new blood vessels occurs within the eye. These new vessels are fragile and can hemorrhage, which causes loss of vision and scarring.
Source: Diabetic retinopathy (healthcentral.com)
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Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus in which long-term exposure to high glucose levels in the blood has damaged retinal blood vessels. This results in new growth of abnormal blood vessels, fluid buildup in the macula (i.e., macular edema), inadequate blood supply to the retina, and possibly blood and fluid leakage into the retina and the vitreous body.
Source: Diabetic Retinopathy (visionchannel.net)
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Epidemiology
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There are important differences over the past few decades in diagnosis, medical care, socioeconomic factors and other risk factors that influence the prevalence and geographic distribution of diabetes and retinopathy as well. It is estimated that in 2002 diabetic retinopathy accounted for about 5% of world blindness, representing almost 5 million blind. As the incidence of diabetes gradually increases, there is the possibility that more individuals will suffer from eye complications which, if not properly managed, may lead to permanent eye damage
Source: WHO | VISION 2020 priority eye diseases (who.int)
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Prevention
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Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy include duration of diabetes, level of glycemia, presence of high blood pressure, dependence on insulin, pregnancy, levels of selected serum lipids, nutritional and genetic factors. Medical interventions can decrease some of the risk to vision caused by diabetic retinopathy. The control of glycemia decreases the risk of the incidence and the progression of the retinopathy.
Source: WHO | VISION 2020 priority eye diseases (who.int)
Symptoms
Diagnosis
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Diabetic retinopathy develops in two stages: nonproliferative and proliferative. Not all patients with nonproliferative retinopathy advance to the proliferative stage, but the more severe the condition, the more likely it will become proliferative. Nonproliferative This is the early stage of the disease, when damaged capillaries break and leak. Fluid buildup in the macula (called macula edema) causes blurred vision. (The macula is located in the center of the retina and is the structure that renders fine, detailed vision.) Proliferative During this later stage, abnormal, fragile blood vessels grow in the retina and into the vitreous body (clear gel-like substance that fills the chamber between the lens and the retina). This process is called neovascularization. These fragile vessels are prone to rupturing and bleeding into the vitreous body, causing blurred vision and possibly temporary blindness. If scar tissue forms, it may pull the retina away from the back of the eye (called retinal detachment), which can result in permanent vision loss. Macular edema also can occur during this stage.
Source: Diabetic Retinopathy (visionchannel.net)
Treatment
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The goal of treatment is to control your diabetes and associated high blood pressure. Such treatment usually does not reverse existing damage, but will slow the progression of the disease. Laser surgery may be used to seal leaking vessels or to eradicate abnormal fragile vessels. Surgical treatment (vitrectomy) is used in cases of hemorrhage into the eye. It may also be used to repair retinal detachment caused by hemorrhage and subsequent scarring.
Source: Diabetic retinopathy (healthcentral.com)
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