Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the eye’s retina (the back part of the eye) that occurs with long-term diabetes. Retina is part of the eye that one cannot afford to lose, because the damage, most of the time is permanent. Therefore, especially for diabetic patients, they must have their eyes checked by an eye specialist at least once a year. If you see dark spots (floaters) or flashes of lights, you must have a comprehensive retina examination as it could be the early sign of retina break; which could lead to devastating retinal detachment.
Diabetic retinopathy results from the damage diabetes causes to the small blood vessels located in the retina. These damaged blood vessels can cause vision loss such as fluid can leak into the macula, the area of the retina responsible for clear central vision.
The symptoms is spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters),
Blurred vision, Fluctuating vision, Impaired colour vision, Dark or empty areas in your vision and Vision loss.
Treatment largely depends on the type of diabetic retinopathy and severity. Treatment goal is to slow down or stop the progression of the condition.
Types of treatment:
- Laser
- Surgery
To prevent diabetic retinopathy is manage your diabetes, monitor your blood sugar level, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control, quit smoking and be alert on your vision changes.
For more information about Diabetic Retinopathy Malaysia, please visit https://www.tvesc.com/
