If you suffer from diabetes, you should get your eyes tested for diabetic retinopathy annually. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of vision loss. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled the blood sugar levels are, the more likely you are to develop this eye condition. Seeing an eye specialist can help you clear your doubts regarding the eye condition. One of the most asked questions about the eye condition is —- can diabetic retinopathy be cured? Well, the answer is no. There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. However, early detection of the disease can help in slowing down the progression of the disease or delay or reduce vision loss.
Here are a few questions you can ask your eye doctor regarding diabetic retinopathy:
- What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?
The symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are:
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Impaired colour vision
- Seeing spots
- Vision loss
Fact: Do you know what is the underlying cause of diabetic retinopathy? It is high blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. Keeping the two under control can prevent the eye condition from worsening.
- What are the different types of diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy can primarily be classified into:
- Nonproliferative: It refers to the early stage of DR, where the retinal blood vessels break and leak.
- Proliferative: In this type of diabetic retinopathy, new blood vessels grow in the retina abnormally, which can cause retinal detachment or scarring. This can further result in vision loss.
- What are the complications that diabetic retinopathy can cause?
Diabetic retinopathy can cause eye conditions such as:
- Diabetic macular edema: Due to the leaking of retinal blood vessels, the fluid gets accumulated in the macular part of the retina. This causes blurry vision.
- Neovascular glaucoma: The growth of abnormal blood vessels due to DR blocks the fluid from draining out of the eye. This causes a neovascular glaucoma, which can further result in vision loss.
- Tractional retinal detachment: DR can lead to formation of scars in the back of the eye. This condition is called the tractional retinal detachment.
- What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?
There are few factors that can increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy:
- Poor control of blood sugar levels
- High level of hemoglobin A1C
- Having diabetes for a long period of time
- High blood pressure level
- High cholesterol
- Tobacco use
Fact: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Indian urban diabetic population is around 18%.
Looking for treatment for diabetic retinopathy in Kolkata?
As one of the leading eye hospitals in Kolkata, we, at Disha Eye Hospitals, have some of the best retinal specialists who can help diagnose and treat various retinal eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal tear and retinal detachment. Along with treatment for retinal diseases, we also offer treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye conditions. Our highly experienced eye doctors ensure that you receive the best possible patient care.