What is diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness and is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid, while in others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness. This medical condition can occur in anyone who has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
What causes Diabetic retinopathy?
Anyone suffering from diabetes has the risk of acquiring this disease. The longer the person has diabetes, the greater he is at risk of Diabetic retinopathy. There are certain risk factors that contribute to this disease, namely:
What are the symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
One may not experience any symptoms in the initial stages of the disease. However, as the disease progresses, you may start experiencing various symptoms, such as:
Treatment for diabetic retinopathy:
If Diabetic retinopathy is in early stages or if it is mild then your doctor will not begin the treatment immediately and will monitor the progress of disease. By managing diabetes, the disease progresses slowly. In severe conditions, Diabetic retinopathy is often treated with laser surgery to shrink the abnormal blood vessels or to seal the leaking ones.