What Is Diabetic Retinopathy and How Is It Treated?

Learning that diabetes might affect your vision is a scary experience. You might notice sudden changes in your eyesight, or a doctor might have warned you about potential risks during a routine exam. If you feel worried about your eye health, you are not alone. Many people experience these exact fears when learning about diabetes-related vision issues. It’s important to know that:

• Diabetic retinopathy begins with mild swelling in the eye’s blood vessels. It can advance to severe blockages and the growth of abnormal new vessels.
• Doctors can apply targeted lasers to seal leaking blood vessels and stop them from growing.
• Injections and steroid treatments help reduce swelling and improve vision.
• You can slow the disease’s progression by watching your overall blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

Here at Wink Eye Care, we believe that understanding the fundamentals of diabetic retinopathy and how this is treated is essential to protecting your eye health. We invite you to reach out to our team if you have any questions or concerns.

What Are the Different Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy develops in stages, each progressively affecting your vision if left untreated. Recognizing these stages and their effects can help you seek timely care to protect your eyesight. Below, we outline the different stages of diabetic retinopathy and what they mean for your eye health:

• Mild Nonproliferative Retinopathy is the earliest stage, in which small areas of balloon-like swelling occur in the retina’s tiny blood vessels.
• Moderate Nonproliferative Retinopathy is the next stage, where some blood vessels become blocked.
• Severe Nonproliferative Retinopathy is the next progression, where many blood vessels are blocked. This deprives several areas of the retina of their blood supply.
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy is the most developed stage, in which the signals trigger the growth of new, fragile blood vessels. These vessels often leak blood into the eye, causing severe vision loss or blindness.

Early diagnosis and managing your condition are essential to treating diabetic retinopathy effectively. Routine eye exams allow specialized professionals to identify the condition in its initial stages, providing timely treatment to preserve vision.

How Does Laser Therapy Help Protect Your Vision?

If the disease reaches a more advanced stage, your doctor might recommend laser treatment. This procedure is done right in the office and often prevents severe vision loss. There are two types of laser treatments:

• Focal laser treatment targets specific leaking blood vessels. The laser creates tiny burns that seal the leaks and stop fluid from entering the retina.
• Scatter laser treatment shrinks new, fragile blood vessels that have started to grow. The doctor places tiny laser burns across the edges of the retina, which causes the abnormal blood vessels to shrink and disappear.

You might need more than one session to get the best results. While laser therapy cannot restore vision that has already been lost, it is highly effective at preventing further vision loss.

What Injections and Medications Are Used for Treatment?

In many cases, doctors use medication to reduce swelling in the macula, the center of the retina. These treatments are very common and highly effective.

• Anti-VEGF injections are drugs that block a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein stimulates abnormal blood vessel growth. By blocking it, the medication stops new vessels from forming and decreases fluid leakage.
• Corticosteroid treatments are a type of steroid medication that doctors may recommend if anti-VEGF drugs do not work well enough. These are injected or implanted into the eye to quickly reduce severe inflammation.

Patients often feel nervous about eye injections. However, your doctor will completely numb your eye before the procedure. Most people feel only slight pressure during the treatment.

What Can You Do to Prevent Future Progression?

Medical treatments are highly effective, but your daily habits play a massive role in protecting your eyes. You have the power to slow the disease down. Consider making these daily choices to protect your vision:

• Watch your blood sugar levels and keep them within your target range.
• Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control through dieting and taking medication.
• Stop smoking, as tobacco damages your blood vessels and accelerates eye disease.
• Schedule dilated eye exams at least once a year.

Small, consistent actions, such as scheduling check-ups, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and managing your current symptoms, can make a big difference in protecting your eyesight and overall well-being. It’s important to seek the help of an eye doctor if you have further questions.

How Can We Help You Protect Your Eyesight?

Hearing a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is tough, but you have plenty of effective options. From advanced laser therapies to simple daily health habits, there are many ways to manage this condition and protect your vision for years to come. Routine exams catch the disease early, giving you the best possible chance of preserving your eyesight. If you notice sudden vision changes or just need a routine check-up, schedule an appointment with a local eye care professional today.