The Effects Of Diabetic Retinopathy On Vision
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Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of ways. There are 3 types of diabetic eye diseases, namely 1. Diabetic retinopathy 2. Cataract 3. Glaucoma
While the mechanisms that cause type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ, both disorders result in high blood sugar levels which, left untreated, have serious long-term consequences on other parts of the body, including the eyes. People with diabetes are at greater risk than the general population for developing cataracts and glaucoma, but a third problem, diabetic retinopathy is most likely to cause severe vision loss and even blindness.
Diabetic Retinopathy is a potentially blinding complication of diabetes that damages the eye’s retina. It occurs when diabetes damages blood vessels on the retina at the back of the eye. Vision loss happens when these damaged vessels leak fluid. It can also occur when fragile new vessels grow and then bleed into the vitreous (the clear gel that fills the inside of the eye). It affects half of the 14 million Americans with diabetes.
There are two different types of Diabetic Retinopathy, namely
1. Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR) 2. Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (PDR)
Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, also known as background retinopathy, is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy. Over time, diabetes causes changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. It occurs when the retinal blood vessels start to leak, causing blood or fluid to seep into the retina. You may find it difficult to recognize people’s faces. The retina becomes thick and swollen and does not work correctly. If the leaks happen in the macula, (the central part of the retina), vision will be blurred. If the leaks occur on the periphery of the retina, there may be no impact on vision.
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the more severe stage of the disease when abnormal blood vessels grow into the retina or optic nerve. Because the disease can cause much of the circulation of the retina to close down, abnormal blood vessels grow into the retina to augment the reduced blood flow. Unfortunately, these abnormal vessels do not re-supply the reduced blood flow. These vessels are often fragile or accompanied by scar tissue, which may cause the retina to pull away from the wall of the eyeball, causing retinal detachment or retina hemorrhage.
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