Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a disorder that harms the blood vessels within the retina. Affecting patients 65 with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Uncontrollable sugar levels can make the retinal blood vessels swell, leak, or become blocked, which can lead to permanent damage and in some cases, blindness. This serious disease may become worse over time and in the earlier stages, symptoms are not always detectable.

If you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it’s extremely important to attend 6 monthly retina exams so we can determine if you have diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetes, we highly recommend scheduling an appointment at Navkar advanced eye, retina and dental care.

What is Diabetic Macular Edema?

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a condition that is directly caused by diabetic retinopathy, which leads to swelling in that part of the retina known as the macula. The macula is essential for the central vision field and is used for reading, recognition, and driving.

What are the Signs?

Generally, at first, patients do not exhibit any noticeable signs during the first part of the disease. However, as the condition worsens, you may start to experience uncomfortable symptoms. These symptoms are often compared to retinal tears or detachments. Some of the primary indications of diabetic retinopathy include:

Immediate changes in vision
Developing flashes or floaters
Fuzzy or distorted vision
Loss in the ability to identify colors
Reduced vision acuity

Treatment Options

Our ophthalmologists at Navkar advanced eye, retina and dental care are excited to provide a variety of innovative treatments for diabetic retinopathy, which we can tailor based on the severity of your disease. We offer anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) intravitreal injections, which stops the growth of irregular blood vessels and reduces diabetic macular edema. We offer panretinal photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which prevents additional leakage and deterioration.

Early detection and the management of diabetes are essential to preventing harmful symptoms and restoring your eye health. However, if not treated, the negative side effects may become permanent, including vision loss. To reduce or stop the progression of diabetic retinopathy, it’s imperative to regulate your sugar and attend yearly eye exams.

Treatment is Possible

Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that can severely impact patients who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Maintaining your blood sugar and scheduling 6 monthly exams are imperative to preventing permenant damage and vision loss caused by the condition. At Navkar advanced eye, retina and dental case, we use innovative procedures, technologies, and techniques to help treat patients with diabetic retinopathy.