What Are The Causes And Symptoms Of Diabetic Retinopathy?
Although diabetes is synonymous with abnormal blood sugar levels or insulin injections, living with diabetes can actually have a range of negative effects on various systems in your body, including your skin, nerves, kidneys, heart - and even your eyes. Specifically, diabetic retinopathy is a condition in which diabetes causes damage to the retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye, and is a leading cause of preventable vision loss around the world. In fact, up to one-third of all people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy at some point.
One of the biggest challenges with diabetic retinopathy is that it often has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. That’s why our eye care professionals recommend that anyone with diabetes receive a comprehensive eye exam at least once a year - and more often if they start noticing vision disturbances. In this case, early detection and treatment really can make a big difference in preserving your vision.
Diabetic Retinopathy: The Basics
To best understand diabetic retinopathy, it’s important to know some basics of the eye. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye, and its job is to absorb light and transmit visual information to the brain. It has small blood vessels and a macula at its centre that processes central vision. The lens, located at the front of the eye, focuses on objects at varying distances by changing shape. The vitreous humour, a clear jelly-like fluid, fills the eyeball and maintains its shape.
In diabetes, high blood sugar levels can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing them to bulge, leak blood and fluids, and eventually develop scar tissue. This damage can lead to the growth of new, fragile blood vessels in the retina and vitreous humour that may block vision and cause pressure on the optic nerve. As diabetic retinopathy worsens, it can also lead to the development of scar tissue at the retina, which ultimately leads to vision loss over time. Early detection and treatment of diabetic retinopathy are critical in preventing this level of severe vision loss and blindness, with much diabetes-related vision loss being preventable.
Symptoms
During the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, most people with the condition do not experience any symptoms. It typically affects both eyes, and noticeable signs only appear when significant eye damage has already taken place. Therefore, it's crucial for individuals with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels and receive regular comprehensive eye exams from a trusted eye care professional to monitor their eye health over time.
In its advanced stages, symptoms may include seeing floaters or spots, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, an empty or dark spot at the centre of vision, trouble distinguishing colours, and loss of vision. If you notice any changes in your vision, such as seeing floaters, it's important to seek prompt treatment from an experienced eye care professional as early intervention is critical to prevent further serious vision loss.
Causes
Diabetic retinopathy is primarily caused by type 1 or 2 diabetes, and the longer a person has diabetes, the higher the chances of developing the condition, particularly if the diabetes is not well-controlled. Other risk factors of diabetic retinopathy include age (55 years or older), obesity (BMI of 30 or over), gender (males have higher rates), medical conditions (such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol), and family history. Women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy or have preexisting diabetes and become pregnant should have a comprehensive eye exam to check for signs of retinopathy, which can worsen rapidly with the vascular and pressure changes during pregnancy. If you notice any changes in your vision, seek prompt treatment from an experienced eye care professional.
Detect Diabetic Retinopathy Early With A Comprehensive Eye Exam At The Optical Warehouse
Diabetic retinopathy can be detected in its early stages before any noticeable symptoms, through a comprehensive eye examination with a qualified eye care professional, which may include:
• Discussing your life, family and medical history to identify risk factors, vision difficulties, diabetes, and other health concerns that may affect your eye health.
• Visual acuity measurements to assess how much your vision has been affected.
• Refraction examinations to check if a new glasses or lens prescription is needed.
• Specialised assessments of the ocular structures, including a dilated pupil test to observe the health of the retina.
• Measurement of the pressure within the eye.
• Retinal photography or tomography to gather data and imaging on the health status of the retina.
• Fluorescein angiography to detect any abnormal blood vessel growth.
After your exam is completed, your optometrist will be able to discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan options with you to protect your eye health, best correct your eyesight, and help give you the freedom to do the things you love.
At The Optical Warehouse, our friendly optometrists offer targeted care for a wide range of conditions. Every treatment plan is designed uniquely for your needs, preferences, and to help optimise your quality of life. Our optometrist will also be able to refer you to an ophthalmologist, or eye doctor specialising in surgery, for more complex treatment, if needed.
Don’t delay treatment, get your eyes checked today. To get your eyes assessed and detect any early changes, contact us via your local Queensland clinic here.
