Individuals living with diabetes face a host of complications stemming directly from the disease itself. From kidney damage to cardiovascular disease, maintaining and controlling blood sugar is key to preventing many complications. Too much sugar, or too little sugar, can increase risk factors for many of these impediments, including diabetic retinopathy. But, with proper management and treatment from your Scottsdale ophthalmologist, diabetic retinopathy will not lead to blindness.
Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is defined as a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. Specifically, this complication is caused by too much sugar in your blood, which damages the blood vessels in the eye that nourish the retina. Over time and without proper treatment, the blood supply to the retina can be completely cut off and vision loss can result.
There are a few risk factors that contribute to diabetic retinopathy, including poor control of blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use, how long you’ve had diabetes, and pregnancy.
Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy
It is absolutely possible to have diabetic retinopathy and not know it, which is why the team here at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons implores you to make an appointment for an eye exam if you are living with diabetes. The earlier we can catch diabetic retinopathy, the better the outcome will be after receiving treatment. In fact, we recommend seeing a doctor at least once a year if you are living with diabetes, whether you have symptoms of complications or not.
Most individuals do not seek out an ophthalmologist until symptoms began to emerge, usually after the complication has progressed a great deal. Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty perceiving colors, dark areas in your vision, fluctuating vision, floaters, and vision loss.
Based on when the complication is diagnosed, ophthalmologists will classify diabetic retinopathy as early diabetic retinopathy or advanced diabetic retinopathy.
Early Diabetic Retinopathy – This type of diabetic retinopathy is caught in the early stages and has not progressed to the point where blood vessels have begun shutting down and irregular blood vessels have begun taking their place. It is defined as the walls of the blood vessels in your retina start to weaken and nerve fibers begin to swell. The central part of the retina itself may also begin to swell.
If caught early, your Scottsdale ophthalmologist will determine whether the timing is right for treatment, or whether you can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy with absolute diabetes management. It is possible that retinal laser treatment may be needed.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy – At this stage, new abnormal blood vessels have begun to grow in the retina, causing greater complications. Scar tissue can build up and cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye. Glaucoma is a common complication in this stage of diabetic retinopathy. Treatment for individuals in this advanced stage is surgery.
Dennis L. Kilpatrick, MD and William R. Kilpatrick, MD have over 40 years of experience with diabetic retinopathy and have performed hundreds of laser surgeries to treat the symptoms of this complication. Know that if you have diabetic retinopathy, Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons can provide exceptional care with state-of-the-art technology. Make your appointment today.