If you have diabetes mellitus, your body does not use or store sugar correctly, and a high level of sugar in the blood can damage the retinal blood vessels (the layer of nerves at the bottom of the eye which perceives light and helps to send images to the brain). Damage to these retinal blood vessels is known as diabetic retinopathy.
Symptoms:
A medical examination is the only way to detect alterations within the eyes. On many occasions, an eye doctor can diagnose and treat retinopathy before it causes sight problems. This is done by dilating the pupils looking into the eye using an ophthalmoscope.
If your eye doctor detects that you have diabetic retinopathy, in order to determine whether or not you need treatment he/she may request colour photographs of the retina, or that you carry out a special test called a fluorescent angiography. This involves the injection of a dye into the arm, and photographs are taken to locate the area in which the fluid is escaping.
Treatment:
The best form of treatment is to do everything possible to prevent the development of the retinopathy. Strict control of the blood sugar level will significantly reduce the long-term risk of sight loss due to diabetic retinopathy. If you have problems with blood or kidney hypertension, these must be treated.
- Laser beam surgery: the main purpose of this form of surgery is to prevent a greater loss of vision. It is not common for persons with blurred vision caused by macular oedema to regain their sight, although some do experience a partial improvement. Laser beams do not cure diabetic retinopathy and cannot always prevent a deterioration of vision.
- Vitrectomy: during this microsurgical intervention, performed in an operating theatre, the vitreous is removed full of blood and replaced with a transparent solution.
